American milk producers do not have sufficient access to the Canadian market despite the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement, deplored the American Trade Representative on Wednesday, who promised to do everything to defend their interests.
“This is a long-standing dispute” between the United States and Canada, recalled Katherine Tai during a hearing before the House of Representatives. “I think there was a clear understanding on our side that access to the dairy market would be improved under CUSMA and we didn’t see that,” she said.
“We will not abandon” the goal of enforcing the provisions of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and “we will continue to work” with farmers and legislators, added the ambassador.
Torn off after bitter discussions between Washington, Ottawa and Mexico City, the CUSMA free trade treaty entered into force in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 1, 2020, at the request of former US President Donald Trump, this treaty replaced NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement that had been in effect since 1994.
“I absolutely respect the aspirations of our dairy farmers and look forward to working with you, including on a strategy for what the next step is,” said Katherine Tai, who negotiated the social aspects of the new agreement. .
Washington has already used treaty provisions to denounce Canadian milk quotas. And the administration won its case when, in early January, the special settlement group found that these quotas were contrary to the provisions of CUSMA.
However, trade restrictions do not seem to have been lifted on the Canadian side.
Asked about the other big dispute with Ottawa relating to softwood lumber, Katherine Tai acknowledged that disruptions in the supply chain are now contributing to the difficulties encountered by American companies in the sector.
She did, however, assure that her administration was ensuring “that U.S. softwood lumber producers are able to compete on a level playing field against the adverse effects of unfairly subsidized and dumped Canadian imports.” “.
She also stressed that the United States was “willing” to resolve this dispute. “But that requires both of us to be at the table with a willingness to resolve the difficulties,” she continued. “It takes two to tango,” she concluded.