Tag: U.S. Mexico dairy

NMPF Strengthens Latin American Ties Amid Trade Uncertainty

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Amid tense and uncertain trade relations between the United States and Mexico, NMPF Executive Vice President Jaime Castaneda reinforced U.S. dairy’s commitment to its Mexican partners at the Pan American Dairy Federation’s (FEPALE) Board of Directors meeting.

Castaneda highlighted new and continuing opportunities for NMPF and FEPALE to promote dairy consumption and boost trade between the two neighboring countries at the meeting, held the week of March 3. Castaneda also met with key Mexican farm representatives, processors and importers to discuss the looming threat of tariffs and other challenges facing the U.S. and Mexican dairy industries. Castaneda met with Ricardo Villavicencio, president of CANILEC (the Mexican association of processors and importers), and Sergio Soltero, secretary of the National Confederation of Livestock Organizations, to emphasize Mexico’s value as a trade partner to the U.S. dairy industry.

Building on these efforts, NMPF and USDEC signed a memorandum of understanding with the Guatemalan Dairy Development Association (ASODEL) on March 20 in Guatemala City. The agreement aims to boost dairy trade, promote consumption and address trade barriers across the Americas—underscoring NMPF’s broader strategy to strengthen regional ties and support open, fair dairy markets.

NMPF Prepares Trade Policy Asks

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) shared their U.S. dairy trade priorities with USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Jan. 27, following an “America First Trade Policy” executive order issued by President Trump issued on Inauguration Day, Jan 20. Three additional executive actions to impose 10% tariffs on China and 25% tariffs on most products from Mexico and Canada were also issued on Feb. 1, although the U.S. has postponed tariffs on the latter two partners for approximately 30 days.

The Jan. 27 broad trade order directs to USTR and its interagency partners affecting U.S. dairy trade to take a number of actions including:

  • Identifying unfair trade practices
  • Conducting an expedited review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement
  • Providing recommendations to revise existing trade agreements to achieve or maintain reciprocal concessions; and
  • Pinpointing opportunities for new bilateral or sector-specific market access opportunities.

With an April 1 deadline for the trade reports, the input from NMPF and USDEC comes at an ideal time and emphasizes the importance of resolving dairy trade irritants and targeting key markets for growth. In addition to underlining the importance of exports to the success of American dairy farmers and companies, the joint USDEC and NMPF document details recommendations to improve the industry’s global competitive standing. This includes expanding market access to bridge tariff gaps with EU and New Zealand suppliers and addressing the U.S. trade deficit of more than $2.5 billion with the European Union.

On the tariffs, President Trump announced the measures due to result of unresolved concerns related to illicit drug flows and illegal immigration. Mexico and Canada have both promised retaliatory tariffs should U.S. tariffs move forward. The pause in tariffs on Mexico and Canada means trade with those countries can continue uninterrupted for the coming month.

In a Feb. 2 statement, Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, encouraged the administration “to draw on the types of tools President Trump wielded so successfully when negotiating USMCA—bringing everyone to the table and working out a solution that minimizes unintended consequences for farmers, rural manufacturers, and consumers.”

NMPF and USDEC also joined more than 400 agricultural organizations in signing onto a Jan. 15 letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, R-AR, and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, to endorse Brooke Rollins for Secretary of Agriculture.

Leading up to her Jan. 23 confirmation hearing, NMPF collaborated with members of the Senate Agriculture Committee to highlight dairy trade challenges. Senators on both sides of the aisle stressed the importance of USDA pursuing a more active trade agenda and vigorously advocating on behalf of U.S. farmers in international negotiations.

NMPF Meets with U.S.-Mexico Dairy Working Group

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF Executive Vice President Jaime Castaneda spent Dec. 3-6 in Mexico City, meeting with the U.S.-Mexico Working Group and strengthening ties with local Mexican dairy producers and industry organizations.

The Working Group is an outgrowth of prior U.S.-Mexico Binational Meetings. It convenes at the working level to share more in-depth knowledge and ideas on how to increase dairy consumption and expand trade between the two countries.

Castaneda met with dairy companies, farmer organizations and government officials to encourage Mexico to engage with the new U.S. administration to find solutions to issues of common concern, such as immigration and trade, rather than escalate tensions. He emphasized that the best means for Mexico to address the legitimate concerns raised by the incoming Trump administration is to work collaboratively.

NMPF, in partnership with the U.S. Dairy Export Council and other agricultural organizations, is working to facilitate the conversations and ensure agriculture trade does not become collateral damage in broader disputes among the U.S. government and its partners.

U.S. and Mexico Dairy Industries Renew Commitment to Cross-Border Cooperation

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Leading dairy representatives from the United States and Mexico met this week in Chihuahua, Mexico to renew their commitment to collaborate and advocate on mutually beneficial dairy policies. This was the sixth meeting between leading U.S. and Mexico dairy organizations since 2016.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) steered the U.S. delegation, which consisted of more than 14 member companies, U.S. farmer representatives, and USDEC and NMPF staff. Delegates from Mexico’s milk producers and dairy processors included:

  • Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (National Organization of Livestock Organizations)
  • Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Leche (Mexican Association of Milk Producers)
  • Gremio de Productores Lecheros de Mexico (Mexican Dairy Producers Guild)
  • Cámara Nacional de Industriales de la Leche (National Chamber of Milk Industries)
  • Consejo Nacional Agropecuario (National Agricultural Council).

Throughout the week, attendees discussed the most pressing issues affecting both industries, in their local respective markets and across the globe.

“Our two industries share so many similar challenges that call for us to work together,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “Mexico is and will continue to be a valuable partner for U.S. dairy. These meetings help strengthen those ties and set the dairy sectors in both countries up for continued success.”

“The U.S. and Mexico dairy industries are key partners in their shared mission to grow demand and protect dairy’s public image,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “The renewed commitment signed today further strengthens our important relationship.”

As part of the meeting, attendees toured the Reny Picot Mexico plant in Chihuahua. The only demineralized whey powder producer in Mexico, Reny Picot is the largest nonfat dry milk powder importer in Mexico, importing an average of 5,000 metric tons per month.

Joint Statement:

On their Sixth annual meeting within the framework of the partnership to strengthen the milk production sector in North America, held in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, hereby agree to:

  1. Preserve, facilitate, and improve trade between the two
  2. Preserve this forum for discussion and analysis of relevant topics and issues of the milk and dairy producing sectors of Mexico and the United States.
  3. Have as a key objective the growth of dairy consumption in both countries for the benefit of producers, manufacturers and consumers in the United States and Mexico.
  4. Promote joint activities seeking to increase the consumption of dairy products within our
  5. Identify and promote actions that improve the productivity of dairy farms in Mexico and the United States.
  6. Strengthen the image of milk and dairy products in both countries to defend against the misuse of milk and dairy product names by other products of non-dairy origin.
  7. Maintain an open communication channel between the milk and dairy producer organizations of both countries, with the aim of reaching consensus for the benefit of our Likewise, exchange information and successful experiences through the participation of members of both countries in forums and congresses organized by our associations.
  8. Work on strengthening cooperation in technological exchange and training, both in terms of on-farm milk production and in improving the quality and safety of milk and dairy products from a nutritional and health standpoint.
  9. Work to share information on key new areas such as sustainability, animal welfare, farm labor, and other issues as they arise and are mutually agreed upon for the benefit of our producers and industry to ensure that we coordinate dairy advocacy efforts in international forums and among consumers.
  10. Exchange information about the performance of the milk and dairy products market in the North America region.
  11. Continue with activities to defend common food names, particularly cheese names, thus allowing their free use in our North American market.
  12. Develop a work plan on the issues of the common agenda, with indicators and a follow-up program with scheduled meetings.