The International Trade Commission has begun sending out detailed questionnaires to cheese manufacturers, asking about their use of milk protein concentrates (MPC), casein, caseinates and other dairy proteins in their production.
The probe was launched under provisions of the Tariff Act, at the request of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA). The issue has emerged as one of the major points of contention this year between dairy producers and manufacturers. The National Milk Producers Federation has been vocal in its claim that MPC exporters and U.S. manufacturers have exploited a loophole in trade rules to the detriment of domestic producers.