U.S. Dairy Lobbies Seek Tougher Stance toward Japan, Canada

Washington, June 3 (Jiji Press)--Two U.S. dairy industry groups urged U.S. negotiators Tuesday to take a tougher stance toward Japan and Canada in Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks. "Japan, as well as Canada, continues to strongly resist living up to the ambitious trade goals it obligated itself to undertake upon joining TPP negotiations," the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council said in a joint letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Our industry will find it difficult to support the final agreement" if Japan and Canada refuse to follow through on pledges to provide comprehensive market access for U.S. dairy products, the two groups said. They also threatened to withdraw support from the U.S. government's Trade Promotion Authority, which will be needed for early ratification of the eventual TPP accord. "Should Japan and Canada not commit to minimum standards and basic market-based principles as many other TPP countries have done, we would need to reexamine our support for TPA," the two industry groups said. At a TPP ministerial meeting in May, Japan insisted that it cannot fully abolish tariffs on its five key farm product categories, including dairy products, beef and pork. Canada is also aiming to maintain tariffs on dairy products. Among U.S. industry lobbies, five farmers' groups issued a joint statement in late May calling for a TPP agreement without Japan if the country continues to refuse to sufficiently open its markets. END