Speaking at the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, National Milk Producers Federation President Gregg Doud emphasized the need for a more aggressive U.S. trade policy, particularly in closing the agricultural trade gap with the European Union. “We import $3 billion in dairy from the European Union and we export $167 million to the European Union, that’s pathetic,” said Doud. “We export 15 times more cheese to Guatemala than we do the European Union. We export more cheese to New Zealand and they’re a major (dairy) exporter with 5 million people.” Doud, who is the former chief agricultural trade negotiator, said the U.S. agricultural trade deficit with the EU today is $23.6 billion.” Doud pointed to the $8 billion investment in U.S. dairy processing as evidence of the industry’s potential for growth.
