U.S. Dairy Updates About Mexican Border

A roundup of media interviews, news releases, market data, background information and more.

President Trump said Thursday (4/4) that he would delay by one year action on his threat to close the border with Mexico. The announcement defused a potential nightmare scenario for U.S. dairy suppliers.

Mexico is a vital trading partner that bought $1.4 billion in U.S. dairy products and ingredients last year.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) takes anything affecting trade at the Mexican border seriously and will continue to monitor the situation, tapping information from sources in Washington, Mexico City and elsewhere.

Some USDEC information is for USDEC members only and can be found on this password-protected page. 

Other information, available to a broader audience, is aggregated below, providing a roundup of interviews, news releases, facts and more pertaining to U.S. Dairy and its trade with Mexico.

SUMMARY: Although President Trump has delayed a decision to close the border with Mexico, USDEC President and CEO Tom Vilsack reiterates the economic damage such a closure would create. "Farm income would be impacted, jobs would be impacted and the relationship between the two countries would be impacted," he tells CNN's "Quest Means Business."

U.S. Dairy Producers Warn Against Border Closure (4/5/19)

Tom Vilsack, fmr. U.S. agriculture secretary & president/CEO of @USDairyExporter, says closing the southern border would be "incredibly disruptive" to the dairy industry, as 30% of U.S. dairy exports go to Mexico & "$3.8 million of product crosses the border... every single day." pic.twitter.com/atWL4KGjAN

— Quest Means Business (@questCNN) April 5, 2019

SUMMARY: Quotes U.S. Dairy leaders, including USDEC's Tom Vilsack, about the damage a border closure would cause. 

Dairy Concerned by Trump Mexican Border Closure Threats (4/5/19)

Last week Trump announced plans to close the southern US border, effectively ending trade with Mexico. He has since changed his mind and now given Mexico ‘a one-year warning’ with further threats of tariffs.https://t.co/kgPSoIrIZV

— DairyReporter.com (@dairyreporter) April 5, 2019

SUMMARY: Dairy and other agriculture groups speak out against a border closure, with Vilsack saying, “Closing the U.S. southern border to Mexico would be a gut punch that could set the industry back by a decade or two.” 

Pork, Dairy, Produce Industries to Trump: Don’t Close Mexican Border (4/4/19)

SUMMARY: Vilsack describes how devastating denying access to Mexico would be.

Border Closing "The Last Thing This Industry Needs" (4/3/19): Nearly 30 percent of U.S. dairy exports go to Mexico, amounting to about $3.8 million daily, USDEC President and CEO Tom Vilsack tells RFD-TV.  

SUMMARY: In a 10-minute interview, Vilsack explains the dynamics of the situation in Mexico as well as other trade policy challenges.

Closing Mexican Border Would Devastate U.S. Dairy (4/3/19): USDEC President and CEO Tom Vilsack explains during an interview with Adams on Agriculture how closing the border with Mexico would be "incredibly disruptive" to the U.S. dairy industry.

SUMMARY: In a joint news release, USDEC and NMPF are among the first agriculture organizations to speak out about a threat to close the border. 

News Release (4/1/19): Mexican Border Closing Would Wreak Further Economic Havoc for U.S. Dairy

Mexican border closing would wreak further economic havoc for U.S. dairy https://t.co/XYGgO1AxU8 #GotDairyJobs pic.twitter.com/LBZSgbj9As

— U.S. Dairy Exporter (@USDairyExporter) April 1, 2019

SUMMARY: Fast facts about doing business in U.S. Dairy's largest export market.

U.S. dairy exports to Mexico at a glance:

• In 2018, a record 15.8 percent of U.S. milk production was exported. Mexico was the largest single customer for U.S. dairy exports, with sales of $1.4 billion, up 7 percent from 2017. 
• Every $1 of U.S. dairy exports to Mexico generates $2.50 of economic activity in the United States, according to a study by Informa Economics.
• Each day, an average of over $3.8 million in U.S. dairy products cross the border into Mexico.
• Mexico comprises roughly 25 percent of all U.S. dairy exports, which totaled $5.59 billion in sales in 2018.
• Mexico is the largest customer for U.S. milk powder, cheese and  butterfat. 2018 was a record year for U.S. sales of nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder and butterfat to Mexico while milk protein concentrate sales reached a 10-year high.

• Mexico has been a vital partner in helping to increase U.S. dairy exports  619 percent since 1995.

 SUMMARY: Past articles providing relevant background information. 

• Executive Summary of Trade Deal's Impact on Dairy
• 7 Facts About Dairy Exports to Mexico (Infographic)
• $391 Million in Cheese Exports to Mexico Support U.S. Dairy Industry, Boost U.S. Economy
• 9 Shared Priorities of U.S. and Mexico Dairy
• Dairy Exports to Mexico Create Nearly 25,000 Jobs and Countless Friendships
• Vilsack Speech in Mexico: Let's Grow Demand Together
• Media Coverage of U.S. Dairy's Trip to Mexico

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The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. USDEC is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff. How to republish this post.