DFC President David Wiens emphasized that protecting the domestic production framework is essential for national food sovereignty and economic stability. Wiens pointed out that Canadian producers have already yielded significant market shares across successive international trade agreements—including CUSMA, CETA, and CPTPP—and stressed that national food sovereignty is not up for negotiation. The sector has made it explicitly clear to federal negotiators that no additional market access concessions or tariff-rate quota adjustments should be granted under U.S. pressure.

Challenging Washington’s narrative of unfair Canadian trade practices, the processing sector highlighted that bilateral dairy trade is already heavily skewed in favor of the United States. DPAC President and CEO Mathieu Frigon noted that U.S. dairy exports to Canada exceed Canadian shipments to the U.S. by more than $600 million annually. Furthermore, American dairy exports entering Canada have surged by more than 150 percent since CUSMA entered into force, underscoring that U.S. exporters already enjoy extensive, expanding access to Canadian markets.

The joint industry appeal also emphasized the critical economic footprint of the domestic dairy supply chain in supporting rural employment and regional economies. Dairy Farmers of Canada represents over 9,000 family farms nationwide, while DPAC member companies employ more than 24,500 workers across processing facilities, together contributing more than $16 billion annually to the national economy. Wiens reiterated that maintaining a resilient domestic dairy sector ensures consumers receive high-quality milk produced strictly to Canadian animal welfare and safety standards.