WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2025—Earlier today, United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer announced agreements on reciprocal trade with Malaysia and Cambodia and frameworks for agreements on reciprocal trade with Thailand and Vietnam, four key Southeast Asian markets for U.S. dairy exporters. Collectively, U.S. dairy exports to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia reached almost $335 million in 2024. The agreements and frameworks announced today promise to reduce tariffs on U.S. dairy products, streamline dairy facility registration, clarify halal laws, protect common cheese names, and remove import licensing requirements.
“Today’s announcement promises to deliver improved access for U.S. dairy in critical and growing Southeast Asian markets and will support the U.S. dairy industry’s efforts to strategically diversify exports away from an over-reliance on China,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). “U.S. dairy exporters have been strengthening relationships in these key markets and region, and we will immediately implement on our plans to benefit from the new access announced today.”
Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia are top 10 markets for U.S. dairy exporters in Southeast Asia and encompass approximately 4% of U.S. dairy exports globally. Vietnam and Malaysia, the top 3 and 4 markets in the region and 12th and 14th markets globally, imported nearly $245 million in high-quality, wholesome U.S. dairy products in 2024. U.S. dairy exports have shown consistent growth in Southeast Asia, and the area is consistently identified as a priority region for U.S. exporters.
“IDFA and its members express sincere appreciation for U.S. negotiators’ efforts in increasing U.S. dairy access to these markets,” said Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA senior vice president of trade and workforce policy. “IDFA and our members recognize and value the efforts required to achieve market gains, and we are deeply grateful for the Administration’s focus on facilitating growth for U.S. dairy exports. We look forward to continuing to provide input and assistance to negotiators and the Administration on their efforts.”
The U.S. dairy industry exports approximately 18% of U.S. milk production, reaching $8.2 billion last year, the second highest level ever. Today, U.S. dairy processors are investing more than $11 billion in new and expanded modern manufacturing capacity across the United States meant to position U.S. dairy as the world’s first choice for wholesome, high-quality, sustainable dairy products.
# # #
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 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.