Canada's Dairy Farmers Could Be Trudeau's Nafta Bargaining Chip

U.S. said to have moderated demand for Canadian sector reform
Dairy is key dispute as Nafta talks continue in Washington

A farm hand cleans straw at a dairy farm in North Hatley, Quebec, Canada.Photographer: Christinne Muschi/Bloomberg

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By Jen Skerritt, Josh Wingrove, and Sandrine Rastello

September 6, 2018 at 4:01 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Henry Holtmann has seen this before – Canada carving off access to its dairy market as a bargaining chip, and using it in trade talks. Now it could happen again.

More than 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) from Washington, the third-generation Canadian dairy farmer is closely watching North American Free Trade Agreement talks, where U.S. President Donald Trump has taken aim repeatedly at his sector. Canada could once again barter away a piece of its restricted – and lucrative – dairy market, over outcry from farmers like Holtmann.