One of the biggest areas of concern in NAFTA talks, has been American access to Canada’s dairy market. Richard Lavoie, of Lavoie Ventures Ltd, says that the threat of Americans gaining more access is one of the reasons why the dairy market has been “not as good as of late” and has resulted in “worrying times” for Canada’s dairy farmers..
Lavoie says if America gets it’s way in gaining more access to Canada’s dairy market, it will be disastrous for our farmers. He says the milk that would be coming from the United States will be cheaper and lower quality. He says “we can’t compete with their subsidized dairy industry… the dairy industry in Canada has had no subsidy for the last 25 years.” He adds that the difference in population, over 300 million in America and about 37 million in Canada, makes it difficult for Canada to compete. Adding, “the subsidy in the States is tremendous.”
At this time, it is difficult for Lavoie to give too much commentary on what would happen if President Donald Trump succeeds in gaining more access. He does say “it’s going to be very difficult to be able to survive in that kind of environment unless the government can subsidize us at the same level as the States, which is very unlikely.”
-LG
