Kagen Meets with USTR Ambassador Kirk to Defend Wisconsin Dairy Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

April 14, 2010

KAGEN MEETS WITH U.S. TRADE REP.  RON KIRK TO DEFEND   WISCONSIN‘S DAIRY INDUSTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D., the only Wisconsin member of the House Agriculture Committee, met today with United State Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk to discuss critical trade issues facing Wisconsin‘s dairy industry.  The meeting was held in the midst of the Obama Administration’s consideration of a new Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.

" Wisconsin dairy farm families can compete and win against anyone in the world, provided there is a level playing field,” said Dr. Kagen.  "I am fighting hard for balanced trade deals; trade deals that allow Wisconsin‘s hard working farm families to compete in a global marketplace without foreign currency manipulation or any other foreign government interference.”

New Zealand, a major dairy trade competitor, is one of the nations included in this Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.  A free trade agreement with New Zealand would be a serious concern to domestic dairy producers and the Congressional Dairy Caucus has taken a strong stand against allowing unfair competition to drive American dairy interests out of business, especially given the recent decline in dairy prices worldwide.

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