New ITC Report Calls U.S. Dairy a Winner in North American Trade Deal

U.S. Dairy Exports to Canada and Mexico Would Surge by $277 Million

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) hailed a new report released today by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that assesses the likely impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the U.S. economy and industry sectors. The ITC report estimates that USMCA would raise U.S. GDP by $68.2 billion, pumping an additional $2.2 billion or 1.1 percent into the U.S. economy through increases in agricultural and food exports.

The report, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and Specific Industry Sectors, determines that the USMCA “would likely have a positive impact on all broad industry sectors within the U.S. economy” and that the U.S. agricultural and food exports will increase by $2.2 billion. For dairy, the ITC expects exports of U.S. dairy products to increase by more than $277 million overall—rising $227.0 million to Canada and $50.6 million to Mexico, respectively.

The report is required under the Bipartisan Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, known as Trade Promotion Authority. Many lawmakers have said they won’t make up their minds on how they will vote on the USMCA deal until they read the independent agency’s report. The results are now conclusive—USMCA will bolster U.S. food and agriculture exports.

“We believe the USMCA is a big win for the U.S. dairy industry and this report confirms that fact,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “The next step is for Congress to swiftly take up the agreement and vote to pass the USMCA. Free trade agreements like the USMCA that open markets and lower trade barriers are crucial to continuing the trend of growing U.S. dairy exports, which leads to jobs and income for Americans.”

The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) met the U.S. dairy industry’s top priorities including preserving duty-free market access to Mexico, eliminating the Canadian Class 7 pricing program, and increasing market access to the Canadian market.