In joint letters to key government officials, IDFA and other industry groups pushed this week for continued action on two key trade issues: U.S. dairy product exports to China and restricted use of geographic indications by the European Union. Without resolution, these issues have the potential to limit U.S. ability to meet burgeoning dairy demand in emerging global markets.
Negotiations Continue on Health Certificate
The question regarding U.S. dairy exports to China began in late April, when Chinese officials announced plans to stop accepting U.S. food-grade dairy product imports because the Chinese government unilaterally decided to no longer accept the U.S. health certificate. U.S. officials secured a 30-day extension, which expired May 30. IDFA learned this week that Chinese officials may not enforce the new health certificate requirement for U.S. food-grade dairy exports until July 1, but no written confirmation is available.
Concerned by the uncertainty of the situation, IDFA joined with the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council to urge Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to increase their efforts to obtain agreement on new certificate language.
"Our industry believes that, given the examples of other certificates currently accepted by China, a path forward based on international-agreed benchmarks is possible and could achieve resolution of this situation, which currently threatens tens of millions of dollars worth of U.S. exports," the letter said.
The groups thanked Vilsack and Kirk for their devoted efforts to date and offered to work with the federal agencies to find a swift resolution.
Growing Use of Geographical Indications Threatens Cheese Exports
IDFA and other dairy organizations from the United States, Australia and New Zealand sent a joint letter this week to the top trade representatives in these countries, expressing appreciation for their attention to the issue of geographical indications. The groups called for unified efforts to combat the European Union's push to expand the scope of geographical indications, which would erode the use of many common cheese names.
IDFA signed the letter along with the National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the Australian Dairy Industry Council and the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand. According to the letter, the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement gave the first indication that the EU has expanded efforts to "claw back" widely used cheese terms for its sole use, and it is now pressing to include these provisions in agreements with Canada, Chile, Peru, Colombia and India.
Cheese names at risk include Asiago, Emmental, Feta, Fontina, Gorgonzola, Grana, Gruyere, Manchego, Munster, Neufchâtel, Parmesan, Provolone, Ricotta and Romano.