Despite turbulence in international markets, the U.S. pet food industry is not without options. That's the central message Dana Waters, director of international affairs at Pet Food Institute (PFI), plans to deliver as the opening session speaker at Petfood Essentials 2026, to be held April 27 in advance of Petfood Forum in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
"Despite volatile international trade conditions, opportunities still abound for the U.S. pet food industry," Waters said. "Knowing that there are tools available to exporters to assist with regulatory and marketing is essential to building a robust export program."
Waters will examine how the U.S. federal government's efforts to reshape the global trading system — through resetting trade balances and establishing reciprocal tariff rates on trading partners — creates direct implications for pet food manufacturers and processors.
Her session will address whether these tariffs have resulted in trade agreements that deliver tangible benefits to U.S. producers or have instead introduced new barriers, particularly around supply chain stability and access to critical imported ingredients.
For industry stakeholders, Waters said, understanding the current trade environment is foundational to operating with confidence. "For the pet food industry, being aware of the opportunities and challenges of the international trade landscape enables U.S. pet food exporters to operate with greater confidence and predictability," she said.
PFI plays a direct role in that work. Waters noted that the organization maintains connections with various stakeholders and participates as a cooperator in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's export marketing programs, helping the broader industry with international marketing efforts while monitoring the trade environment for potential challenges and opportunities.
Diversification will be key
Looking ahead, Waters emphasized that diversification will be key to building resilience. "To mitigate potential sudden shifts in policy, exporters will find it practical to diversify where possible," she said. "Market diversification of final products as well as diversification of the supply chain where possible is also becoming important for building a program that can withstand sudden changes."
Her session will equip attendees with a clearer understanding of how U.S. trade policies and tariffs affect global markets, along with practical strategies to evaluate supply chain impacts, manage risk, and identify new opportunities.
Petfood Essentials 2026 centers on the theme "Efficiency unleashed: Optimizing your pet food business," addressing the need for pet food and treat companies to operate cost-effectively amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
The interactive educational seminar will feature experts offering practical guidance on controlling costs, streamlining operations, optimizing formulations and supply chains, and improving manufacturing efficiency through tools and technologies including artificial intelligence.
To see the full Petfood Essentials agenda, click here.
Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials show dates are April 27-29, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. To register or stay informed on the latest event developments, go to PetfoodForumEvents.com.
