WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2024—The United States exports approximately $8 billion in dairy products to 145 countries around the world every year, which amounts to approximately one day’s worth of U.S. milk production each week. In fact, recent estimates indicate that the U.S. now exports more dairy on a fluid milk basis than we consume. These figures are increasing year after year meaning that trade has never been more important to the future of U.S. dairy than it is now.

Within that context, IDFA submitted comments today on the 2025 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report, which details U.S. concerns with foreign barriers to trade for Congress annually. This year, IDFA’s submission included a range of concerns, including new barriers related to provisional tariffs on U.S. milk powder exports to Colombia and long-standing trade concerns such as Canada’s milk class policies. 

“IDFA appreciates the U.S. government’s efforts annually to report on trade barriers through its NTE Report, which is a unique and significant resource to U.S. dairy exporters as well as congressional and federal offices seeking to understand dairy trade priorities,” said Becky Rasdall, senior vice president for trade and workforce policy for IDFA. “The U.S. dairy sector needs a proactive trade agenda to expand access to global markets and remain competitive. Tools like the NTE, which evaluate the barriers facing exporters in existing markets, are also important for this growth. 

“In a time where the interest in new trade agreements is reduced, the United States must do even more to ensure existing trade agreements are not just protected, but advanced. That is why IDFA is using this opportunity of commenting on the NTE Report to urge the Administration to begin early consideration of how best to protect USMCA during its upcoming 2026 review.”

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Contact: press@idfa.org

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.