WASHINGTON, February 13, 2026—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today applauded the Administration’s recent progress on trade agreements that will expand new market opportunities for U.S. dairy exports and strengthen the competitive position of American agriculture. The signing of a new trade agreement with Taiwan, which fully eliminates tariffs on U.S. dairy exports, marks a significant milestone for the U.S. dairy industry. In addition, new trade agreements with Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bangladesh, and North Macedonia announced over the past week signal strong and growing momentum to expand U.S. agricultural trade.

“IDFA strongly supports the Administration’s actions to expand market access for U.S. dairy through these recent trade agreements,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO, IDFA. “The complete elimination of dairy tariffs in Taiwan creates a major opportunity for American dairy producers and processors to compete, grow, and win in a valuable and growing market.”

Taiwan imported more than $1 billion in dairy products last year, yet the United States accounted for only a fraction of that total. With tariffs now fully eliminated, U.S. exporters are positioned to expand their presence and compete more effectively—particularly as the European Union, which does not have and is not pursuing a trade agreement with Taiwan, will continue to face higher tariff barriers.

“These agreements deliver immediate and strategic advantages for U.S. dairy,” Dykes continued. “By removing tariff barriers, enforcing fair treatment and opening new commercial channels, the Administration is strengthening America’s global dairy leadership while helping our industry diversifying our global trade portfolio.”

IDFA also welcomed the Administration’s broader push to expand tariff-free or reduced-tariff access across Latin America, Central America, South Asia and Europe – an effort that opens significant opportunities to expand global demand for U.S. dairy products, at a pivotal time for the industry. With increasing milk supply coming online in the years ahead, expanding export opportunities will be essential to supporting dairy farmers, processors and rural economies across the country.

“Exports are a cornerstone of U.S. dairy’s future growth and stability,” U.S. dairy depends on strong export markets,” Dykes said. “We stand ready to work with the Administration to build on this progress, secure additional market access, and ensure continued opportunities and growth for the U.S. dairy farmers and processors.

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Contact: press@idfa.org

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $198 billion in direct wages and $779 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.