April 27-29, 2026

All Speakers

Dog and cat food research experts who will present at Petfood Forum & Petfood Essentials

Dana Waters
Directory of International Affairs
Pet Food Institute
Dana Waters is the director of international affairs at the Pet Food Institute (PFI), where she leads initiatives to address global trade and regulatory challenges affecting U.S. pet food exports. She serves as a key liaison between PFI members and the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, supporting export issue resolution and export certificate negotiations. Previously, Waters served as a government relations intern for public relations firm GP3 Partners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in international affairs from Georgia State University.
Date/TimeTitle
Mon Apr 27
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Petfood Essentials opening session: Opportunities and challenges for pet food in today’s global trade environment
KCCC Room 2215

Dana Waters, director of international affairs, Pet Food Institute, explains how the U.S. federal government’s commitment to reshape the global trading system through resetting trade balances and establishing reciprocal tariff rates on U.S. trading partners creates direct implications for the pet food industry. Stakeholders are examining whether these tariffs have led to trade agreements delivering tangible benefits to U.S. pet food manufacturers or whether they have introduced new barriers. Waters discusses how this evolving trade environment presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in relation to supply chain stability and the continued importation of critical ingredients necessary for pet food production. She provides understanding of how U.S. trade policies and tariffs affect global markets, help businesses be able to evaluate impacts on pet food supply chains and ingredient access, and develop strategies to manage risks and seize opportunities.