Milk Producers Support Import Restriction Bill

May 10, 2001

The National Milk Producers Federation announced its "vigorous support" Wednesday for Senate legislation that would restrict the currently unabated flow of imported milk proteins that are disrupting the U.S. dairy sector, according to NMPF.

Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN), introduced Senate Bill 847 that would impose tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on imports of milk protein concentrate, and casein products intended for use in the food and animal feed industries (casein also has non-food, industrial applications, which would not be covered by the legislation). Currently, U.S. trade laws impose virtually no tariffs on these products, although the United States does apply TRQs to related dairy products including nonfat dry milk and cheese.

Dairy farm groups, including NMPF, contend that the unrestricted flow of milk protein products is displacing domestically-produced nonfat dry milk (NDM) powder in the manufacture of cheese and other foods, leading to lower farm-level prices and the buildup of surplus stocks of NDM powder.

"It is absolutely critical for the dairy producer community to rally behind S 847, because it is the best opportunity we have to establish a level playing field for U.S. producers, who are having to compete against state-subsidized MPC and casein imports from Europe and Oceania," said Jerry Kozak, CEO of NMPF.