Archive · 26 Aug 2026
US Agriculture Chief Accuses Canada of Unfair Dairy Tariffs
The United States says Canada charges very high tariffs on some American dairy products.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said some tariffs can reach 200% or 300%.
She said President Donald Trump wants American farmers to receive better access to Canadian markets.
The disagreement is happening while the two countries discuss trade rules.
Rollins said farmers and ranchers are worried because the outcome is uncertain.
She also defended a temporary plan to bring more ground beef into the United States.
The plan allows 300,000 metric tonnes of beef to enter over 90 days.
She said the United States needs more beef partly because fewer cattle have arrived from Mexico.
Officials stopped those cattle shipments because of the spread of New World screwworm toward US cattle regions.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins accused Canada of imposing tariffs of up to 300% on some US dairy products.
Rollins said President Donald Trump wants fairer market access for American farmers under existing trade arrangements.
She acknowledged that trade uncertainty is troubling US farmers and ranchers amid negotiations with Canada and Mexico.
Rollins defended a temporary 300,000-metric-tonne ground-beef import intended to address a supply shortage.
She said restrictions on Mexican cattle linked to New World screwworm had reduced US cattle supplies and affected beef availability.
- Who
- US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump, US farmers and ranchers, and Canadian dairy trade partners.
- What
- The United States is challenging Canadian dairy tariffs that Rollins said can reach 200% to 300%, while also addressing a domestic beef supply shortage.
- When
- The report does not specify the date of Rollins’s remarks; the first Douglas, Arizona, cattle port reopened on Monday.
- Where
- The trade dispute concerns the United States and Canada, while the cattle-supply issue also involves the US-Mexico border.
- Why
- The US administration says Canadian tariffs limit fair market access, while beef imports are intended to address supply disruptions after Mexican cattle restrictions.
- Dairy tariffs cited
- Rollins said some Canadian tariffs on US milk and dairy products reach 200% to 300%.
- US agriculture secretary
- Brooke Rollins
- Temporary beef imports
- President Trump authorized 300,000 metric tonnes of ground beef imports for 90 days.
- US annual beef consumption
- About 13 million metric tonnes.
- US domestic beef production
- About 11 million metric tonnes annually.
- Cattle import disruption
- Rollins said roughly one million cattle were prevented from entering the United States during the border restriction.
- Reopened cattle port
- The first port in Douglas, Arizona, reopened to live cattle movements on Monday.