Dairy Group Warns Against Border Closure

U.S. ag lobbyists are out in force with warnings for President Donald Trump not to close the southern border, with U.S. dairy groups leading the charge. The U.S. Dairy Export Council warned a southern border closure would add to the industry’s economic slump caused by retaliatory duties imposed after Trump slapped tariffs on trading partners including China and the European Union. Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. dairy, importing nearly $1.4 billion worth of dairy products in 2018. “Dairy exporters already are suffering from diminished access to export markets due to high tariffs and lack of progress on U.S. trade agreements,” Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of the group, said in a statement. “Closing the U.S. southern border to Mexico would be a gut punch that could set the industry back by a decade or two." Mexico is the largest customer of U.S. milk powder, cheese and butterfat, according to the dairy council.