The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, June 29, edition that Canada's supply management system for dairy is a key issue in the free-trade agreement with the United States and Mexico. The Globe's Kate Helmore writes that Washington is pushing Ottawa to alter how import licences are allocated, aiming to allow Canadian retailers like Loblaw, Walmart and Costco to import American dairy products. In creating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Canada consented to an increase in dairy imports from the U.S. The Americans claim they can't capitalize because Ottawa restricts import licences to dairy processors and distributors, leading to less than half of the total quota being utilized, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Ottawa has so far refused to comment on whether it will change dairy import restrictions. However, in October sources told The Globe that the office of Dominic LeBlanc had discussed the costs of changing import licensing rules with dairy processors. Securing more access to Canada's dairy market remains a high priority for Washington. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer short-listed Canada's supply management system for dairy in his December letter to Congress regarding the USMCA.