IDFA submitted comments last week to the U.S. Trade Representative's office advocating for the passage of the U.S.-Colombia and U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreements. Both agreements, which are pending Congressional approval, would provide significant benefits to IDFA members. Colombia and Korea are especially important dairy markets, accounting for $43.9 million of 2009 total dairy exports.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk received more than 500 comments from trade associations, companies and individuals that included arguments from both sides of the fence, leaving the Obama administration with a tough decision on how to move forward. In a press release issued last Wednesday, Kirk said the call for comments "reflects the administration's emphasis on providing transparency and creating an open dialogue on trade issues." He added that USTR will "carefully review the comments received to help us determine how best to move forward with these FTAs."

In a similar statement issued early last week, President Obama noted that "this administration is committed to pursuing expanded trade and new trade agreements." He called global trade "absolutely essential to our economic future."

In its comments, IDFA noted that "free trade agreements offer enormous potential for growth in new markets for U.S. dairy products." In the first half of 2009, the U.S. exported over $1.2 billion worth of dairy products around the world. Colombia and Korea are especially important dairy markets, accounting for $43.9 million of 2009 total dairy exports. Speaking specifically to the U.S.-Korea FTA, the comments stated that "the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement is a key building block in the U.S. strategy to advance trade liberalization worldwide, embodying what IDFA feels is one of the most important free trade deals for the American economy since the North American Free Trade Agreement."

• IDFA Comments regarding the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

• IDFA Comments regarding the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement