To the Editor:
Re “Trudeau’s Challenge on Trade: Managing Both Trump and Domestic Politics” (news article, June 12):
A 270 percent Canadian tariff on American milk might seem like a terrible idea to President Trump, but from Canada’s point of view it is only trying to avoid the disastrous economic results of persistent and massive overproduction that has plagued American dairy farmers.
Dairy farm insolvencies and farm failures in America are at or near record highs, with prices remaining well below the actual cost of production. In contrast, Canada’s dairy industry is thriving, meeting but not exceeding market demands, and supporting in the process a wide array of Canadian family dairy farms.
But a more compelling reason to keep much of America’s dairy out of Canada is for health reasons. American milk is banned or blocked in Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada if it contains a growth hormone called rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), which for many years (less so today) was injected into cows so they would produce up to 20 percent more milk. The rBGH growth hormones cannot all be destroyed in the milk pasteurization process.
And now with the Trump administration weakening or eliminating many food safety provisions, America’s food production is even more suspect.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/17/opinion/canada-milk.html