Reading Time: 3 minutes It seemed like a win-win — until a new milk category caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump and unexpectedly became one of the key sticking points in NAFTA negotiations. It’s called Class 7, which is milk protein isolates (dried milk powders high in protein). It was introduced in 2016 in response to diafiltered […] Read more
The milk in the middle of the high-stakes NAFTA drama
A new milk category thrust dairy farmers into a political firestorm — so what is Class 7 all about?
Canada, U.S. push toward NAFTA deal by Friday
Washington | Reuters — Top NAFTA negotiators from Canada and the U.S. increased the pace of their negotiations Thursday to resolve final differences to meet a Friday deadline, with their Mexican counterpart on standby to rejoin the talks soon. Despite some contentious issues still on the table, the increasingly positive tone contrasted with U.S. President […] Read more
Dairy farmer, advocate Bettina Schuurmans, 55
Funeral services will be held Wednesday in Elmira, Ont. for well known dairy farmer Bettina Schuurmans, who with her husband took to the road this summer in support of Canada’s dairy sector. Schuurmans and husband Henk, who owned and operated Milky Wave Farms near Elmira with their sons, had been on the road on their […] Read more
As U.S., Canada spar, farm hopes ride on two men in lobster boat
Reuters — While Justin Trudeau vowed last week not to be pushed around and U.S. President Donald Trump called the Canadian prime minister “weak,” two key officials in their governments with a seemingly harmonious relationship were making fishing plans. On Friday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visited the farm of Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay […] Read more
Trudeau safe for now as Trump attacks, but angry farmers loom
Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, facing the threat of a trade war from U.S. President Donald Trump, has unanimous domestic support for now but to keep a firm hold on power must wring concessions from an unwilling powerful dairy lobby in order to mollify Washington. Trudeau, who over the last year […] Read more
Supreme Court finds for provinces in ‘Free the beer’ case
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s top court on Thursday ruled against a New Brunswick man who had argued he had the constitutional right to buy beer more cheaply in a neighbouring province, saying that the law does not impose absolute free trade across the country. Dubbed the “free the beer” case in Canadian media, it […] Read more
Amid fresh Trump tension, negotiators seek NAFTA progress
Mexico City | Reuters — U.S., Mexican and Canadian negotiators met on Monday seeking to narrow disagreements on how to overhaul the NAFTA trade deal despite renewed signs of tension between Mexico and U.S. President Donald Trump over his planned border wall. The trade teams began a seventh round of talks on Sunday aiming to […] Read more
Trans-Pacific agreement draws praise from ag groups
Farm and agri-food groups say deal will open new markets but CFA issues warning on supply management
Reading Time: 2 minutes Here’s what farm and agri-food groups were saying after an agreement was struck on a new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal (also called TPP-11 or CPTPP): Cereals Canada The TPP-11 agreement raises the bar with respect to modern and progressive trading rules in Asia-Pacific and beyond. Canada’s participation demonstrates much needed […] Read more
More milk quota increases expected for Eastern Canada
Updated, Jan. 15, 2018 –– Dairy Farmers of Ontario expects it will need six per cent more milk from producers in the next year. DFO chair Ralph Dietrich told the organization’s annual meeting that new processing capacity coming online this year will help drive the continued increase in quota allocated to meet the demand. The […] Read more
Three other takes on the Trans-Pacific trade talks
Pork, dairy, and grain producer groups also have strong views on what needs to happen in negotiations
Reading Time: < 1 minute Here’s what other Canadian commodity groups are saying about the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks. “Last year, 1.1 million tonnes of pork and pork products, valued at over $3.7 billion, were exported to 92 different countries. Of this, approximately 80 per cent was sold to current TPP partners while another 15 per cent goes to countries we […] Read more
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