Canada: Trump is wrong when he says dairy practices unfair

The head of the organization representing Nova Scotia’s dairy farmers says comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday are “unfair and untrue”.

“So the Americans are not suffering from the current terms of NAFTA and existing trade agreements”, said Dumontier.

“What they’ve done to our dairy farm workers is a disgrace“, Trump said Thursday.

Trump also singled out “lumber, timber and energy” as issues in the Canada-U.S. trade partnership, although he did not get into specifics.

“Our farmers in Wisconsin and NY state are being put out of business”, the President said.

He says the USA now enjoys a $400-million dairy surplus with Canada.

“In Canada, what they’ve done to our dairy farm workers is a disgrace”. He told The Canadian Press that despite some USA rhetoric and his rebuttal letter sent to US officials on Tuesday, he still expects “constructive discussions” between the two countries.

Why? Because the United States has a positive balance of USA $ 8 billion in trade in goods and services between the two countries. “We will judge American policy when American policy is announced”.

“Canada strongly believes in a rules-based system of trade, and therefore always abides by and upholds the rules that govern trade”, Freeland said in a statement.

The President has long voiced his desire to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement – but usually has aimed his fire over unfair trade matters at Mexico – not Canada.

Trump also took the opportunity to slam NAFTA, the free trade deal linking the US, Mexico and Canada, calling it a “disaster for our country”.

Trump launched his broadside after a brewing trade spat that has seen the United States dairy lobby accuse Canada of “systemic disregard” of its trade obligations, while the Canadian industry accused its American rival of “scapegoating”.

At a speech to factory workers in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Trump criticized Canadian dairy regulations and supply management system, calling trade between the two countries a “one-sided deal” that doesn’t allow USA farmers to compete fairly.

Wisconsin agriculture Secretary Ben Brancel and NY agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball wrote to USDA Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Young on Friday.

Canada has regularly said it’s willing to renegotiate Nafta and that certain parts of the pact could use an update.

Members of Congress from Wisconsin and NY contend Canada is violating trade agreements, and they plan to raise the issue with President Donald Trump.

Canadian officials reject the idea that their dairy producers and processors’ policies are hurting US farmers, and instead blame global overproduction for USA farmers’ financial losses.

“Canada would enter any negotiations with the objective to make it better for both countries”, Carr said.