WASHINGTON D.C.—In a letter last month to President George W. Bush, 46 dairy industry leaders encouraged the White House to continue to press for meaningful reform of agricultural subsidies within the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round.

The executives stated in the letter that the U.S. proposal to reignite the WTO negotiations is the right track for the United States to take going into the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial, which was about to begin when the letter was sent. Issued in October, that proposal calls for the elimination of export subsidies and significant reductions in both domestic farm subsidies and tariffs.

The 46 executives lead major U.S. cheese, milk, cultured product and ice cream companies, and industry suppliers—a group that represents a broad swath of the U.S. dairy industry. Representatives from several IDFA member companies and IDFA staff planned to attend the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial last month.