U.S. Rep Rejects Call to Exclude Dairy from Trade Deal

(Radio New Zealand)

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has rejected calls by American lawmakers for dairy to be excluded from a free trade deal that includes New Zealand. The legislators want Mr Kirk to exclude dairy from the eight-country Trans Pacific Partnership.

The call from the Congressional dairy farmers caucus followed a letter from 30 senators in March opposing dairy’s inclusion. It claims increased imports of New Zealand dairy products will depress already-low prices and devastate the U.S. industry.

But Mr Kirk says it is too early to exclude sectors from a possible deal and improving access to overseas markets as a result of the deal could be a boost for American farmers.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has expressed unease at the inclusion of Canada in the Trans Pacific Partnership. Canada, which has a strong local dairy lobby, is not currently part of the talks but is believed to be pressing to join. Read more here.