JOC Staff | Mar 05, 2013 2:56PM EST
Eleven national organizations representing dairy farmers and dairy industry workers have sent a letter to eight members of Congress urging them not to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal without considering the impact on dairy farms and workers.
The letter states that the pending trade deal could have “tremendous impact” on where and how dairy products are produced and processed and urges Congress to adopt new trade policymaking procedures, rather than reinstating “fast-track” authority.
“New market access for New Zealand’s monopolistic dairy sector would be especially damaging to U.S. dairy farmers and those who produce and process nonfat dry milk, butterfat or cheese,” the letter said.
“Congress must make sure this trade deal doesn’t open the door to unfair competition,” said Rome Aloise, international vice president for the Teamsters and head of the union’s dairy conference.