The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said they applaud the Dec. 9 announcement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that it is initiating consultations with the government of Canada under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Given the national and strategic importance of U.S. dairy exports, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), both headquartered in Arlington, Va., said they released on Nov. 12 an executive summary of their recent detailed analysis of the intricate web of global trade barriers that are hampering overseas dairy sales.

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), issued the following statement on October 6 regarding the August 2020 agricultural export data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Trade System:

A bipartisan group of 25 senators sent a letter on Aug. 26 identifying challenges with implementing several dairy-related provisions in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer regarding trade negotiations between the governments of the United States and Kenya, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) said a U.S.-Kenya agreement has the potential to provide tangible market access for U.S. food and agricultural exports to Kenya’s growing economy.

Members of Congress representing dairy districts from across the country joined together on July 8 to send a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

On Jan. 16, the U.S. Senate passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

On Oct. 23, the representatives of the organizations of milk producers and the dairy processors of Mexico, including Asociación Nacional de Ganaderos Lecheros, Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas, Gremio de Productores Lecheros de la Republica Mexicana, and Cámara Nacional de Industriales de la Leche, and the representatives of the organizations of milk producers of the United States, including National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council, issued the following statement on their fourth annual meeting:

The U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation said they joined other agriculture groups and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle at a rally to tout the trade benefits of USMCA.

During a press conference, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called on Congress to pass USMCA.