Dairy Leader Wants More Congressional Focus on Trade

Sheryl Meshke (MESH-key), CEO of Associated Milk Producers Incorporated, told a Senate subcommittee that the government must pursue expanded trade opportunities. The U.S. dairy industry is asking Congress to pursue additional market access opportunities and address export supply-chain delays so that the U.S. dairy industry can keep up with its global competitors. Meshke serves on the board of directors for the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “In pursuing exports, the U.S dairy industry faces experienced and well-established competitors who’ve been very active with free trade agreements,” Meshke said in testimony before the Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade. She says the global playing field is slowly tilting against the U.S. due to competitors’ trade agreements with key dairy import markets. U.S. trade negotiators should also look for more access to priority markets like Southeast Asia, Japan, China, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.