Three prominent dairy industry organizations have praised federal trade officials for highlighting international obstacles that block American dairy products from reaching foreign markets in the newly released 2026 National Trade Estimate report.
The National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council, and Consortium for Common Food Names expressed appreciation for the U.S. Trade Representative’s focus on addressing these barriers through diplomatic negotiations.
“Nearly one in every six pounds of milk produced in America is shipped to a customer overseas,” stated Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “When foreign markets are closed off by bogus restrictions, the pain is felt directly on farms across this country. The administration’s work through reciprocal trade negotiations to knock down these barriers is exactly the kind of advocacy American dairy farmers need, and we are grateful to see it reflected in this report.”
Krysta Harden, who leads USDEC as president and CEO, emphasized the importance of removing unnecessary international requirements that block dairy exports.
“The inclusion of dairy trade barriers in this report and the administration’s concrete action to address them through reciprocal trade negotiations sends a clear signal that the United States is serious about opening markets for American dairy exporters,” Harden explained. “Every unnecessary certification requirement dismantled, every unjustified facility registration eliminated, and every market access commitment secured through these agreements is a win for U.S. dairy. We thank the administration for confronting the barriers directly and we look forward to building on that progress.”
The Consortium for Common Food Names specifically called attention to European Union policies that restrict the use of traditional food names, which the organization views as unfair trade practices.
“The EU’s common name confiscation campaign is one of the most cynical trade tactics in the world today, and we are grateful that this administration has made confronting it a priority,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “By documenting the EU’s geographical indications agenda prominently in the NTE Report and pushing back against it in reciprocal trade negotiations, USTR is standing up for American producers of cheeses, wines, meats, and beers. We strongly encourage the administration to keep up the great work.”
