Donald Trump: Impact on the Dairy Industry

Name: Donald John Trump

Position: 45th President of the United States (2017-2021)

Biography

Born on June 14, 1946, Donald Trump graduated with a degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his presidency, he expanded The Trump Organization and ventured into media and television.

Impact on the Dairy Industry

During his presidency, Donald Trump focused on reshaping U.S. agricultural policies, significantly affecting the dairy industry. A key achievement was the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), resulting in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This agreement aimed to create more favorable conditions for U.S. dairy exports, enhancing market opportunities for American dairy producers.

Trump's trade policies also included imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods. While intended to bolster U.S. market conditions, these tariffs introduced new challenges and affected market stability within the dairy sector.

Support and Challenges for Dairy Farmers

The Trump administration advocated for deregulation to stimulate growth in the dairy market and stabilize farm policies. However, his immigration policies posed significant challenges, affecting labor-intensive industries like dairy farming due to workforce availability issues. Labor shortages in the U.S. agricultural sector were exacerbated by the stringent immigration policies during his administration.

Ongoing Influence

After his presidency, Trump returned to his business activities while maintaining political engagement, with potential plans for a 2024 presidential campaign. He continues to emphasize deregulation and support for farmers in dairy-centric states such as Wisconsin. His administration's policies, including tariff impositions, have had lasting implications, with the U.S. dairy export industry valued at approximately $8.2 billion.

During his tenure, President Trump supported initiatives to remove artificial colors, encouraging member companies to cease using FD&C colors by December 31, 2027. Additionally, a trade agreement with the UK was signed during his presidency, further impacting international trade dynamics. Furthermore, he implemented a 39% tariff on Swiss cheese as part of a trade policy shift in August 2025. Trump is also involved in trade agreement discussions between the United States and India, emphasizing the benefits of the agreement in terms of U.S. energy exports and investment opportunities.

Former President Donald Trump suggests the possibility of letting the USMCA expire. Trump indicated that the trade agreement, which includes Mexico and Canada, might be allowed to expire or be renegotiated.

Modified: 2025/12/07