The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) between the US and 11 countries in South America and Asia, has gone through tough negotiations since 2008. And it will be difficult to get the deal through the House and Senate during the lame duck session – the period between the end of one presidential regime and the beginning of the next.

If the deal does not make it through in this period, the new Donald Trump regime is certain to kill it. Trump has previously described the TPP deal as a “disaster” for the US.

Even though the main agriculture organisations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, have been supporters of the deal, there has been opposition from segments of the dairy industry.

The Wisconsin farmers are worried that the trade deal would open the floodgates to low-cost milk concentrates from New Zealand

In Wisconsin, 1,000 dairy farmers who were surveyed by the Wisconsin Farmers Union voted by 80% to reject the TPP because of their concern regarding imports.

The Wisconsin farmers are worried that the trade deal would open the floodgates to low-cost milk concentrates from New Zealand. They fear those products would replace Wisconsin milk in cheese production.

But John Wilson, senior vice president of Dairy Farmers of America, said: “Exports have become a very important part of the US dairy industry. We’ve exported almost 15% of our milk production over the last few years, and that number can grow under the TPP.”

Europe

Serious doubts also remain over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and Europe. This is for the same reason as the TPP.

On Friday, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said talks between the two sides will cease between now and January, when Trump takes over. Malmström said the ball is the court of the US.

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