The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released last week the 2015 National Trade Estimate Report (NTE), an annual report that outlines the work done by the administration to reduce and remove tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports. Barriers for U.S. dairy exports to key markets such as Canada, the European Union, Japan and Mexico were highlighted in the report. It also noted the complete lack of market access for U.S. dairy products in India and Russia.

IDFA highlighted these and other trade issues specific to the U.S. dairy industry in comments submitted to USTR last October. Restrictive import regimes in Canada and Japan and the European Union’s constraints on the use of common food names, like parmesan and feta, are two key examples.

“We’re pleased that USTR is continuing efforts to remove the barriers that hinder U.S. dairy exports,” said Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president. “We appreciate the progress that has been made and hope these barriers will be reduced or eliminated in the near future.”

The report includes special features on sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that are affecting American agricultural exports, as well as technical barriers to trade that are unfairly restricting American manufacturing exports. Read the report here.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.