In a setback for U.S. dairy, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute settlement panel upheld Canada’s dairy quota administration practices, leaving U.S. dairy exporters struggling to realize the market access granted in the trade agreement. Despite the tireless efforts of the U.S. government team, this ruling reflects a glaring failure to safeguard the most fundamental rights outlined in the USMCA.
In this second dispute initiated by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under USMCA regarding Canada’s administration of its dairy tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), the United States refined and expanded its 2021 claims that Canada is not meeting its dairy TRQ administration commitments under the agreement. In the first dispute, Canada was challenged by the previous USMCA panel over the minimum percentages of quota the government was allocating to Canadian processors. In response, Canada immediately updated its rules resulting in even higher quantities of quota being allocated directly to Canadian processors. The United States consequently initiated this second dispute under the agreement, arguing that Canada unfairly limits quota access; that quota allocations are calculated in a manner that favors Canadian processors; that requirements are imposed on quota applicants that intentionally disadvantage importers; and that Canada’s reallocation procedures prevent quotas from filling. The panel’s report disagreed with all U.S. claims.
Michael Dykes, D.V.M, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, issued the following statement:
“First and foremost, IDFA commends the hard work of the U.S. government team that worked on this dispute; the outcome of this dispute is not an indication of the government’s efforts in this particular matter. Yet, we are completely stunned and deeply disappointed by this panel’s failure to defend even the most basic rights outlined in USMCA. This outcome sadly confirms what the U.S. dairy community and U.S. negotiators collectively feared from the outset of USMCA negotiations — that Canada’s supply management system is so imbalanced and so far outside a rules-based and free market trading system that no existing set of rules is comprehensive enough to effectively curb its distortive impacts.
“With the outcome of this second USMCA dairy dispute, IDFA joins the growing number of business leaders urging the Biden-Harris Administration to urgently reset its trade policy agenda. Against the backdrop of escalating global conflicts and food insecurity, it is imperative that the United States advance new negotiations that dismantle distortions undermining rules-based trade. It is time to re-establish the United States as a global leader in negotiating preferential trade agreements with unwavering commitments.
“IDFA remains committed to a rules-based, free-market trading system that promotes fair competition, transparency, and global cooperation. IDFA will continue to pursue accountability for Canada’s opaque market distortions that seek to substitute imports while cross-subsidizing their own exports and continue to seek enforcement of the rules-based, free-market values to which Canada allegedly committed.”
Krysta Harden, president and CEO of US Dairy Export Council, released the following reaction:
“By allowing Canada to ignore its USMCA obligations, this ruling has unfortunately set a dangerous and damaging precedent. We do however want to express our appreciation for allies in Congress and the Administration for their efforts and commitment to fighting for U.S. dairy. This is unfortunately not the only shortcoming in Canada’s compliance with its international commitments. We are committed to working with USTR and USDA to evaluate efforts to address Canada’s continued harmful actions that depress dairy imports while simultaneously evading USMCA’s dairy export disciplines.”
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott and Chairman GT Thompson released the following statement regarding a report published today by the second USMCA dispute panel on Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocation policies:
“We are disappointed in today’s announcement and the decision of the dispute panel. It is critical the U.S. encourage and enforce USMCA, and this decision allows Canada to continue their questionable protectionist practices that disallow fair access to Canadian markets. We appreciate Ambassador Tai and the Biden Administration’s continued pursuit to ensure fair market access for U.S. dairy producers.”
Despite the United States exporting more than $1 billion in dairy products to Canada in 2022, making it the second largest market for U.S. dairy exports, U.S. dairy exporters were unable to fill any Canadian dairy quotas granted in the USMCA. The average tariff fill rate was only 42% across all 2022/2023 quotas, with 9 of the 14 TRQs falling below half the negotiated value for the same period.
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