It seems almost a given now that any trade deal Canada strikes with the United States will have to offer up more American access to the Canadian dairy market. As the two nations’ chief negotiators prepared to resume their talks in Washington Tuesday, dairy producers suggest this deal is a line in the sand for them. “We’ve taken those hits for team Canada, and we are determined that there be no further concessions on dairy,” said David Wiens, vice president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Various U.S. officials – including agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue and Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow – have stressed in recent days that the milk issue is integral to a trade deal. With the Mexico deal in hand, and Trudeau publicly indicating that Canada’s red-line issues are Chapter-19 and cultural industries, the Americans have considerable leverage, he added.

Source: National Post September 10, 2018 23:37 UTC