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U.S. Trade Representative Kirk talks dairy

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk was in Southwestern Wisconsin Thursday to tour a Foremost Farms USA cheese plant and visit with dairy producers. The Ambassador talked about the need to complete pending free trade agreements with Panama, Columbia and South Korea and what those agreements would mean for dairy. “With Korea for example, there are some estimates that our dairy exports could increase by as much as $245 million.” He says Panama and Columbia could add around $25 million each. Kirk says he would like to move the deals forward within the next twelve months but realizes there are some challenges to accomplishing that.

Another agreement being negotiated is the Trans-Pacific Partnership a deal that is causing a lot of concern for dairy folks. The main fear is with New Zealand’s dairy cooperative Fonterra in that the deal would open the door to the U.S. market for Fonterra while U.S. dairy producers have little if anything to gain in New Zealand. Kirk says that is why he was in Wisconsin “to better understand their concerns.” He says part of the challenge is to structure the agreement in such a manner as to balance things out but the bigger picture is the fact New Zealand is just one country involved in this deal which opens the entire Southeast Asian market.

AUDIO: Ambassador Kirk comments on pending trade deals