National Farmers Union President Rob Larew has voiced concerns over the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and Canada, emphasizing its detrimental effects on American dairy farmers. Larew criticized current U.S. trade policies for not addressing core issues within the dairy industry such as corporate consolidation and overproduction.
Larew stated, "Policymakers are focused on U.S. trade policy without solving the underlying problems in the dairy industry—corporate consolidation and continued overproduction." He argued that broad tariffs on dairy products fail to address these issues and instead destabilize the industry by increasing costs and creating uncertainty for farmers, processors, and rural communities.
Highlighting a significant decline in the number of U.S. dairy farms, which have decreased by 84% since 1992, Larew pointed out that tariffs exacerbate this trend by adding to existing uncertainties. He noted that Canada's approach to managing its dairy system ensures fair prices for farmers, suggesting that similar policies could benefit U.S. producers.
"Family farmers are always the first to feel the impacts of a trade dispute," Larew remarked. He expressed a desire to collaborate with policymakers on reforms aimed at fostering fair competition and creating profitable markets for all farmers.
