North American Free Trade Agreement talks intensified over dairy issues prior to breaking off for this weekend. Hopes are they’ll resume this week. Canadian dairy farmers told their Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to use access to the protected Canadian dairy market as a bargaining chip. Minnesota Milk Producers Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom says the U.S. request for dairy access is not a big ask.
He says a compromise will need to be reached to get a three-nation deal and it’s important all partners are part of a final agreement.
Sjostrom says most U.S. ag groups want to see NAFTA completed as soon as possible although negotiators don’t seem to be in a big rush to get that done.
Dairy Farmers of Canada officials say they’ve already lost $193 million because of past trade agreements and they won’t accept more losses.
