The World Trade Organization has repeatedly warned the virus would likely cause trade disruption, but has it?
Our partners at Milk Business report dairy exports posted a record month in January. And while it’s unclear how exports faired last month it’s likely the virus will have an impact. U.S. Dairy Export Council CEO Tom Vilsack saying the virus presents export challenges and also opportunities. He says the opportunity is for diversification in the market including the potential to ship product to Mexico or South America and possibly Kenya in the future if the country can get a trade deal there.
And the National Milk Producers Federation releasing a statement on the virus’s potential impact on domestic and international Markets saying quote, “From possible damages to domestic and world markets, to supply chain labor disruptions on the farm, at the processing plant or in transporting milk, the potential ramifications for dairy are wide-ranging. We will devote our resources to the best of our ability to helping dairy farmers and cooperatives respond to whatever challenges they may face.”
The statement going on to say the U.S. dairy supply is safe and that there is *no evidence this strain of coronavirus is present in domestic livestock.
