U.S. dairy companies can expect increased demand for their products from Chinese consumers in the coming years, according to a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, it said tariff-rate quotas between 6 percent to 20 percent on dairy products and non-tariff barriers like restrictions on foods produced with the use of biotechnology will continue to hinder U.S. exporters.

In “Cultivating Opportunity: The Benefits of Increased U.S.-China Agricultural Trade,” the Chamber of Commerce noted the current considerable agricultural trade between the two countries, totaling nearly $25 billion in 2015, and said U.S. exports still have substantial potential to grow. Driven by continuing trends of income growth, urbanization and changes in diet, China is expected to rely on larger dairy imports to meet its domestic needs, and U.S. dairy companies should benefit, the report stated.

The United States remains the third-largest exporter of dairy products to China, behind New Zealand and the European Union, with milk powder and whey representing the largest share of U.S. dairy exports.

For more information on U.S. trade with China, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.