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Top Stories
May 16, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — The White House announced this week that the United States and China have reached an agreement to reduce tariffs that had escalated to 145% on Chinese goods entering the United States, and 125% on American products entering China. Negotiators from the United States and China met in Geneva, Switzerland, over last weekend, and on Monday they issued a joint statement affirming the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship to both countries and to the global economy. The statement also noted the importance of a sustainable, long-term and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship. The United States and China have agreed each will lower tariffs by 115% while retaining an additional 10% tariff. Other U.S. measures will remain in place. This means baseline U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will drop to 30%, while baseline Chinese tariffs on American products will drop to 10%, effective Wednesday, May 14, for 90 days through Aug. 9. The White House notes that while the United States is removing the additional tariffs it had imposed on China April 8 and April 9, it will retain duties imposed on China prior to April 2, including Section 301 tariffs, Section 232 tariffs, tariffs imposed in response to what the president labeled a fentanyl national emergency invoked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and Most Favored Nation tariffs. It adds that this agreement works toward addressing the U.S. goods trade deficit with China to deliver real and lasting benefits to American workers, farmers and businesses. “For too long, unfair trade practices and America’s massive trade deficit with China have fueled the offshoring of American jobs and the decline of our manufacturing sector,” the White House says, noting that the U.S. goods trade deficit with China was $295.4 billion in 2024 — the largest among any U.S. trading partner. China will modify the application of its additional ad valorem tariff rate, suspending 24% of that rate for an initial period of 90 days, while retaining the remaining ad valorem rate of 10% on those articles. China says it also will adopt all necessary administrative measures to suspend or remove non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States since April 2, 2025. The joint statement says the United States and China will establish a mechanism to continue discussions about economic and trade relations, and these discussions may be conducted alternately in China and the United States, or in third countries agreed upon by the parties. In ongoing negotiations, the United States will be represented by Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. China will be represented by He Lifeng, vice premier of the state council. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) notes that in February and March, China imposed 10% and 15% retaliatory tariffs on select U.S. goods, including agricultural products, and that dairy products have faced the 10% additional tariff rate since March 10. China’s 10% and 15% tariffs on agricultural products from the United States will continue through this 90-day suspension. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew says NFU is encouraged to see the administration responding to the concerns of farmers and ranchers by taking steps to ease trade tensions with China. “Farmers spent years developing China into an important market for many agricultural products; future trade agreements must build on these decades of work,” Larew says, adding that while this week’s news is a positive next step, farmers continue to face significant uncertainty. “We are watching these negotiations closely and expect any future deal to deliver lasting, meaningful benefits for America’s family farmers and ranchers,” he says. CMN |
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May 16, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — The House Agriculture Committee this week advanced its piece of the budget reconciliation package on a party-line vote. The measure now heads to the House Budget Committee for a full markup. The House Ag Committee provisions improve the farmer safety net from the 2018 Farm Bill but also cut a projected $290 billion out of food assistance over the next decade. Under the plan, farmers would see better reference prices, a broader band of protection levels under commodity and insurance programs, and see the payment limit for farm programs increased. The bill also seeks to shift food assistance spending to the states to make up for cuts to those programs. The Agriculture Committee is just one of the committees that held markups this week on different sections of the farm bill to add to a budget reconciliation package the House is putting together meant primarily to extend the 2017 tax cuts, news reports say. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” as it is being called, also would cut social spending in programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the bill, states would pay at least 5% of the SNAP benefit costs starting in 2028. States with higher error rates on payments could end up paying to 25%, which could top $1 billion for some states. The bill also increases state administrative costs. Another provision would tighten rules around SNAP eligibility, especially for people considered able-bodied and without dependents who are not meeting work requirements for the program. The bill also would require parents with children age 7 or older to have at least one adult working or volunteering 20 hours a week or risk losing food benefits. “For far too long, the SNAP program has drifted from a bridge to support American households in need to a permanent destination riddled with bureaucratic inefficiencies, misplaced incentives and limited accountability,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., in a statement after releasing the House Ag Committee package. “This portion of the One Big, Beautiful Bill restores the program’s original intent, offering a temporary helping hand while encouraging work, cracking down on loopholes exploited by states and protecting taxpayer dollars while supporting the hardworking men and women of American agriculture.” Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., in a statement said he applauds Chairman Thompson’s leadership in advancing these provisions and taking this critical step to prevent a tax increase on hardworking farmers, ranchers and producers. “We share the same goal to deliver on President Trump’s agenda and address the immediate challenges facing farm country,” Boozman says. “The Senate will carefully consider the House’s approach to achieve this.” However, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, criticized the more than $290 billion in cuts to SNAP. “Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs from President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs, House Klobuchar also cited a report recently released by the National Grocers Association that found SNAP funding supports approximately 388,000 jobs and $20 billion in direct wages, creating $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue. “Beyond the immediate impact cuts will have on SNAP recipients, cuts to SNAP benefits will also create downstream economic harms,” she says. Dairy and ag stakeholders praised other aspects of the bill they say will help the farm economy. “We commend Chairman GT Thompson and committee members for advancing important investments that will help support and create opportunities for dairy,” says Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “We will work with lawmakers to advance these provisions through Congress, knowing that dairy is well-served by what the House Agriculture Committee is approving.” Doud says NMPF is pleased that the bill extends the Dairy Margin Coverage program through 2031, providing dairy producers with much-needed continuity. The package also bases the program’s production history calculation on a farmer’s highest production year out of 2021, 2022 or 2023, an update that better reflects recent on-farm production levels. The bill also funds mandatory USDA dairy processing plant cost surveys every two years, which will better inform future make allowance conversations. Finally, it includes long-term resources for important trade promotion, conservation, research and animal health programs. NMPF notes that the legislation ultimately will be folded into a broader budget reconciliation package that will include an extension of current tax policies, among other areas. NMPF supports House Ways and Means “Whether it’s risk management or tax issues, the stakes are enormous for Congress to get the policy right in this legislation,” Doud says. “House committees have done good work this week to start major elements of this bill on the right track for dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own.” National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew says that while NFU appreciates that the House “Proposals to strengthen crop insurance, bolster the farm safety net and maintain voluntary conservation programs are important steps toward securing the future of our food system,” Larew says, adding, however, that NFU’s members know that the process matters. “Pitting farm and nutrition priorities against one another creates unnecessary division and weakens the broader effort. A strong farm bill — however it comes together — must reflect the full scope of challenges facing agriculture and rural communities, and it must work for everyone it touches: farmers, ranchers and families across the country,” he says. CMN |
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May 16, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — The 2025 milk production forecast is raised to $227.3 billion pounds this month, up 400 million pounds from the previous month on expectations of an increased cow herd and a faster growth rate in output per cow, all based on the latest information published in the Milk Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, says USDA in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report released this week. USDA this month also included forecasts for 2026 in the report. Milk production in 2026 is forecast to increase from 2025 to 227.9 billion pounds, driven by an expanding milk cow herd and slightly higher milk per cow. The import forecast on a fat basis for 2025 is lowered in this month’s report on reduced expectations of butter shipments. The skim-solids import forecast is unchanged. The fat basis export forecast is raised on competitively priced butter and cheese. Exports on a skim-solids basis are raised on increased shipments of whey products, lactose and cheese, USDA says. Commercial exports in 2026 are forecast to be lower than in 2025 on a fat basis but higher on a skim-solids basis due to additional exports of whey products, USDA adds. Commercial imports are forecast to increase on a fat basis in 2026 due primarily to increases in imports of butter. Imports on a skim-solids basis are forecast to increase slightly. Domestic use in 2026 is expected to increase on both a fat basis and skim-solids basis. Butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk (NDM) and whey price forecasts in 2025 all are raised from the previous month on recent prices and increased export demand for the second half of the year, USDA notes. Cheese now is forecast to average $1.840 per pound, butter $2.460, NDM $1.240 and whey $0.535. The 2025 Class III and Class IV price forecasts also are raised, to $18.70 and $18.45 per hundredweight, respectively, the report says. The all milk price for 2025 is increased to $21.60. Dairy product prices are forecast to be lower for butter, NDM, cheese and whey in 2026 compared with 2025, primarily due to increased milk supplies, USDA says. Cheese is forecast to average $1.800 per pound, butter $2.450, NDM $1.215 and whey $0.470. As a result, Class III and Class IV prices also are forecast lower in 2026, at $17.50 and $18.10 per hundredweight, respectively, USDA says. The all milk price in 2026 is forecast to be $21.15. CMN |
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May 9, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — In March, the United States exported 245,755 metric tons of dairy products (FAS, total), up 2.8% from March 2024, according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. U.S. dairy exports in March were valued at $842.5 million, up 13.8% from a year earlier. Imports of dairy products to the United States totaled 82,179 metric tons in March, up 9.3% from March 2024, and were valued at $503.8 million, up 5.8%, according to USDA. March’s dairy exports marked the highest monthly volume since February 2023 and brought the first quarter nearly back to even, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) in its monthly analysis (blog.usdec.org/usdairyexporter/us-dairy-exports-rebound-in-march-0?). U.S. cheese exports in March totaled 49,287 metric tons, marking the second-best month ever for cheese, just 1.5% below the monthly record set a year earlier, USDEC notes. A number of markets posted increases, including Japan, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Central “Moving forward, U.S. suppliers are facing strong prior-year results again in April and May,” USDEC says. “At the same time, pricing remains in favor of American products, particularly given recent changes. At this week’s Global Dairy Trade auction, Cheddar prices soared 12% to $5,519 per metric ton, extending the gap between Oceania and the U.S. and more than making up for recent gains in CME block prices.” U.S. nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) exports were up 1.4% in March to 64,575 metric tons and the first positive month of year-over-year trade in six months, USDEC reports, noting that U.S. prices have fallen over the last several months, due to a recovery in domestic production as well as softer global demand. With U.S. prices competitive again, there could be some renewed interest in U.S. milk powders. “However, the threat of tariffs is causing some global buyers to balk at buying U.S. product out of fear of tariff placement while product is in transit, despite most countries’ decisions to refrain from retaliatory measures at this stage,” USDEC says, adding that uncertainty from tariffs likely will mean U.S. prices will remain at a discount. U.S. exports of low-protein whey totaled 46,828 metric tons in March, up 3.2% from a year earlier, driven by purchases from China before the biggest retaliatory tariff hikes took hold, USDEC says. China began applying an additional 10% retaliatory tariff on U.S. dry whey and whey protein concentrate (WPC) in mid-March, while an additional 125% tariff was applied in early April to dry whey, WPC and whey permeate. “Buyers who got in under the wire drove total YOY U.S. low-protein whey exports to China by 34% in March — in line with the year-to-date trend,” USDEC explains. “While those are hefty gains, it would be extremely surprising if demand continued to weather the full weight of the retaliatory tariffs that started in April.” March U.S. lactose exports totaled 36,019 metric tons, down 0.8% from a year earlier. March U.S. butterfat exports totaled 8,134 metric tons, up more than 200% year-over-year. CMN |
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March cheese production up; USDA revises NDM stock levels |
May 9, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — March U.S. cheese production, excluding cottage cheese, totaled 1.226 billion pounds, up 1.4% from March 2024, according to data in the March Dairy Products Report released this week by USDA’s Natural Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). (All figures are rounded. Please see CMN’s Dairy Production chart on page 14.) March cheese production was up 9.8% from the 1.116 billion pounds produced in February, but down 0.8% on a daily average basis. Italian-type cheese production in March totaled 517.9 million pounds, down 0.2% from March 2024. Production of Mozzarella, the largest component of Italian-type cheese production, totaled 405.8 million pounds in March, down 0.9% from a year earlier. American-type cheese production in March totaled 500.2 million pounds, up 4.6% from March 2024. Production of Cheddar, the largest component of American-type cheese, totaled 347.7 million pounds, up 5.4% from March 2024. Wisconsin was the leading cheese-producing state with 304.4 million pounds produced in March, up 2.8% from March 2024. California followed with 215.2 million pounds produced in March, down 0.1% from a year earlier. U.S. production of butter totaled 229.0 million pounds in March, up 8.6% from March 2024. March butter production was up 12.9% from February’s 202.7 million pounds, and up 2.0% on a daily average basis. California was the leading butter-producing state with 66.6 million pounds produced in March, up 1.1% from March 2024. Meanwhile, analysts note that in this month’s Dairy Products Report, USDA reported a much lower-than-expected March end-of-month manufacturers’ stocks total for nonfat dry milk (NFDM or NDM) — almost 100 million pounds lower than forecast — which they say was driven largely by a revision to February stocks. “That’s no typo — it’s likely a record error for the NFDM stocks forecast driven largely by a -78.9 million pound revision to February stocks,” says Nate Donnay, director of market insight at StoneX Group Inc., in Wednesday’s edition of StoneX’s Early Morning Update report. “While February NFDM stocks looked heavy and were larger than expected initially, this is still a mind-bending downward revision.” Betty Berning, contributing dairy economist for HighGround Dairy, confirms that she spoke with USDA, and the revision is accurate. USDA revised 2023 and 2024 NDM stocks in its Annual Dairy Products Report released April 25, and Berning explains last year’s NDM inventories were taken down in every month, with December’s final tally at 202.5 million pounds, 53.5 million pounds less than what was printed in the March Dairy Products Report. “USDA will only revise one month back on its Dairy Products Report. This means that although 2024’s data was drastically revised at the end of April 2025, at the next monthly Dairy Products Report (released Tuesday), only February’s data could be changed, hence the very large revision to February and unchanged numbers from January,” she adds. Donnay tells Cheese Market News that this revision could have some impact on dairy markets, though it is just one of multiple supportive developments this week. “There are a lot of things to unpack,” he explains. “First, the market was strengthening prior to this report, then we got a very bullish NFDM export number and we had a bullish GDT auction on the same day the March Dairy Products report came out. So I don’t think we can attribute all of the strength we’ve seen in NFDM to the stocks’ revision.” The second thing to note is how much the market is driven by actual supply and demand fundamentals versus perceptions of supply and demand based on USDA data, he continues. “What if we had no data from the USDA, would dairy prices be completely disconnected from supply and demand fundamentals? Probably not,” he says. “Actual supply and demand set prices; the USDA is just trying to measure that supply and demand. The USDA data does color people’s perceptions, so it does have some impact on the market, but it’s hard to tell how much it matters.” Finally, he questions how much these new inventory numbers can be trusted. “They imply very strong domestic disappearance, which doesn’t line up well with anecdotal comments,” Berning also says the big downward revisions are somewhat bullish to markets, as there is less NDM than initially thought. “Demand has not been great, though, and explains why prices have not exploded higher,” she says. “Exports were weak in 2024, falling 8% versus 2023, and combined production of SMP/NDM was at its lowest level since 2020 due to lower demand. “Exports thus far in 2025 aren’t overly exciting either, up just 1% year-to-date through March.” She adds that the January-March 2024 numbers also trailed the same quarter in 2023 by 8%, meaning these also were far from healthy. “Although March’s stocks of 263 million pounds are at the bottom half for the month over the past 10 years, with March 2024, 2017 and 2016 ranking lower, excess powder in warehouses may not be needed to keep up with the current demand pipeline,” she predicts. “U.S. prices are in line with the rest of the world, and with all of the tariff drama, it seems unlikely that the export situation is going to change much in the coming months.” CMN |
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U.S., UK reach trade deal; EU shares list of countermeasures |
May 9, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — Yesterday the White House announced a historic trade deal between the United States and United Kingdom (UK), noting that it will significantly expand U.S. market access in the UK, including a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers. “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers,” says President Trump, adding that the UK also will reduce or eliminate numerous nontariff barriers against U.S. products. Among the agricultural benefits, the White House says this trade deal: • Includes more than $700 million in ethanol exports and $250 million in other agricultural products, like beef; • Commits the countries to work together to enhance industrial and agricultural market access; • Closes loopholes and increases U.S. firms’ competitiveness in the UK’s procurement market; and • Ensures streamlined customs procedures for U.S. exports. The reciprocal tariff rate of 10% on UK and other imports, which was imposed April 2, still is in effect. The White House also notes that the UK maintains certain tariff and nontariff barriers that restrict market access and create an unfair playing field for American workers and businesses. For example, the UK imposes tariffs that can exceed 125% on meat, poultry and dairy products on top of maintaining non-science-based standards that adversely affect U.S. exports. Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), applauded the announcement of this trade deal between the United States and the UK that promises to expand access for U.S. agricultural goods, reduce tariffs and remove barriers to trade. “Some estimates value the deal for U.S. agriculture at up to $5 billion in new market access opportunities. IDFA has been advocating for U.S. dairy to be part of those opportunities as we look to improve our bilateral cooperation and build upon the $19.5 million in dairy exports that the United States sent to the United Kingdom last year,” Dykes says. “For too long, the UK has limited America’s food and agricultural exports to the world’s sixth largest economy, and now President Trump’s deal promises to level the playing field,” he adds. “IDFA looks forward to studying the details of this agreement as they emerge, especially specifics on relief and new market access opportunities for U.S. dairy products. The United States offers the world’s most wholesome, high-quality and affordable dairy products, and IDFA is excited to work with our member companies to bring these delicious products to more consumers in the United Kingdom.” Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) on Wednesday announced a list of U.S. imports that could be subject to countermeasures if ongoing EU-U.S. negotiations do not result in a mutually beneficial outcome and the removal of U.S. tariffs. The list, open for public consultation through June 10, includes U.S. imports worth 95 billion euros (approximately US$107 billion), covering a broad range of industrial and agricultural products. Among the dairy products on the list are food preparations for infant formula, milk protein concentrates and whey protein concentrates. The EU also announced it will launch a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute against the United States on its universal tariffs and its tariffs on cars and car parts by formally lodging a request for consultations. “Tariffs are already having a negative impact on the global economies. The EU remains fully committed to finding negotiated outcomes with the U.S.,” says Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president. “We believe there are good deals to be made for the benefit of consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. At the same time, we continue preparing for all possibilities, and the consultation launched (this week) will help guide us in this necessary work.” In other trade news this week, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to meet with USTR staff at the USTR Mission to the WTO. Plans included meeting with President Karin Keller-Sutter of Switzerland to discuss negotiations about reciprocal trade, as well as meeting with his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China to discuss trade matters. “At President Trump’s direction, I am negotiating with countries to rebalance our trade relations to achieve reciprocity, open new markets and protect America’s economic and national security,” Greer said earlier this week. “I look forward to having productive meetings with some of my counterparts as well as visiting with my team in Geneva who all work diligently to advance U.S. interests on a range of multilateral issues.” CMN |
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Presenters show opportunities for dairy in leading food trends |
May 2, 2025 |
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CHICAGO — Quality ingredients and targeted nutrition are among the top food and beverage trends in 2025 that offer opportunities for dairy product innovation, according to presenters from Innova Market Insights during this week’s American Dairy Products Institute/American Butter Institute (ADPI/ABI) Annual Conference held here. The Tuesday commercial session on “Dairy Products Trends, Trials and Tribulations” was presented by Trevor Riebling, Innova’s head of enterprise accounts in North America, and Tom Vierhile, Innova’s vice president strategic insights. Out of Innova’s “Top 10 Food & Beverage Trends, 2025,” Riebling and Vierhile focused on six key trends that matter most for dairy: Ingredients and Beyond, Precision Wellness, Flourish from Within, Climate Adaptation, Taste the Glow and Mindful Choices. For Ingredients and Beyond, which also ranked No. 1 in Innova’s 2025 food and beverage trend list, the presenters emphasized that as the demand for added value becomes standard, elevating quality beyond ingredients is key. To take advantage of this trend, dairy companies must come up with a way to stand out beyond finding the star ingredient and develop a coherent narrative around quality. “The quality of product is the most important factor for consumers in food and beverage brands,” the presenters explained. Following this trend, they noted that high-protein products are emerging everywhere, from yogurt and ice cream to protein bars. Leading subcategories for the number of launches of high-protein products include sports powders, bread and bread products, and sweet pastries. “Dairy is among the leading growth categories for innovation in products containing protein ingredients,” they said, adding that one-third of U.S. consumers use cheese as a source of protein as an alternative to meat. In addition to protein, consumers also are seeking quality in the naturalness and inherent goodness of their foods, from “no artificial ingredients” claims to healthier nutritional profiles. Innova noted that almost one in three U.S. consumers would reduce their dairy consumption due to artificial ingredients in processed dairy products. Innova ranks Precision Wellness as the No. 2 trend for 2025, and the presenters highlighted age-specific nutrition as a targeted approach for dairy products. In 2024, there was a 24% year-over-year growth in global dairy launches with a claim specific to children (5-12 years) , and Gen X and Baby Boomers also are key targets for age-specific nutrition, the presenters said. Other precision wellness areas that work well with dairy include weight management and condition-specific nutrition. Innova reported a 38% year-over-year growth in 2024 global new dairy launches tracked with a weight management claim, and a 16% year-over-year growth of dairy launches with a lactose-free claim. Consumers selected bone or joint health (48%), protein intake (43%) and digestive health (37%) as key health-related reasons for maintaining dairy consumption, according to a 2024 Innova survey. Digestive/gut health makes up its own key trend for food and beverage in Innova’s 2025 list, particularly desirable for older generations. The presenters pointed to marketing for Bellwether Farms Sheep Milk Yogurt, which advertises “Great Taste. Easy on your Stomach.” They also pointed to growth in new snack products with a probiotic inclusion. Sustainability and animal welfare is another top 10 trend, and the presenters noted that the dairy industry is adopting various sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact, as well as advancing efforts toward animal welfare in dairy farming. They also highlighted the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) in tracking farm data in areas such as cow health and managing methane emissions. “Taste the Glow” is a trend driven by a booming cosmetic industry, now bringing beauty-enhancing features into food. The presenters noted that one in five consumers globally have purchased food and beverage to “improve physical appearance/beauty” in the last year, with top opportunity areas including facial skin, hair and body skin. There has been a 21% average annual growth in new dairy launches with a skin health claim from 2022-2024, they added. One product example they pointed to was Lifeway’s recently launched Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen line with claims to support skin hydration, elasticity, smoothness and joint health. The final top 10 trend the presenters tied to dairy opportunity was Mindful Choices, noting that as consumers prioritize their mental and emotional well-being, brands are crafting innovations that connect with their feelings. This is a newer trend in the food and beverage realm, as the presenters explained consumers pay high attention to their mental health, with 36% saying that feeling mentally/emotionally well is their primary health goal. However, there still is low association between mental health and functional food and beverages among consumers, according to Innova. Among a variety of strategies consumers adopt to feel mentally well, three present good opportunities for dairy: getting more sleep, making changes to diet/nutrition, and participating in a calming and destressing activity. The presenters highlighted two dairy brands that have tapped into consumer desire for better sleep, both in the Asian market. Meiji last year launched a functional milk that contains crocetin and tryptophan to support vision and sleep. Meanwhile, Nestlé China also last year launched a new milk powder, made from a blend of bioactive ingredients such as tryptophan, vitamin B and magnesium, developed to promote sleep quality. “Thirty-six percent of consumers globally say getting more sleep is a way that they are improving their mental or emotional well-being,” the presenters noted. More information on Innova’s trend reports is available at www.innovamarketinsights.com/reports/. CMN |
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USTR highlights common food names in trade barrier report |
May 2, 2025 |
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WASHINGTON — The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) this week released its 2025 Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights. Among the key elements of the report highlighted by USTR are ongoing concerns with the European Union’s (EU) aggressive promotion of its exclusionary geographical indications (GI) policies. USTR notes that the United States continues its intensive engagement in promoting and protecting access to foreign markets for U.S. exporters of products that are identified by common names or otherwise marketed under previously registered trademarks. The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) say they appreciated USTR’s decision to spotlight protection of common food names in the agency’s 2025 Special 301 Report. The annual report highlights the European Union’s persistent campaign to monopolize common names — such as “parmesan” and “feta”— through protectionist GI policies. CCFN, NMPF and USDEC note these efforts restrict the use of widely recognized food and beverage terms to only specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. producers out of certain key markets. “The European Union’s approach to geographical indications is entirely unacceptable. It intentionally crowds out fair competition by restricting market access for U.S. and international producers,” says Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “Too many trading partners have been coerced into imposing trade USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden says Europe’s misuse of GIs is nothing more than a “trade barrier dressed up as intellectual property protection.” “It not only unfairly strips American producers of the right to use common, widely understood terms, but significantly handcuffs commercial export opportunities. We welcome USTR’s focus on this issue and appreciate the administration’s dedication to protecting U.S. market access rights,” Harden says. NMPF notes that last year, the United States imported nearly $3 billion more in dairy products from the European Union than it exported to Europe. “Europe’s abuse of the GI system is a significant reason for that deficit,” says Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “EU GI schemes create a two-tiered system that benefits European producers and stamps out competition. We appreciate that USTR is addressing this unfair practice and look forward to continuing to work together to level the playing field for U.S. dairy producers.” CCFN submitted comments to the agency in January, which broke down the many markets where U.S. dairy producers’ common name rights are being threatened. NMPF and USDEC filed supporting comments noting the urgency for action to address this pressing trade barrier. CCFN Senior Director Shawna Morris built on those comments at a Feb. 19 USTR hearing, where she underlined how the EU misuses geographical indications and why it’s imperative for the U.S. government to match the EU’s efforts on common names. CMN |
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U.S. dairy industry groups sign MOU to partner with Indonesia |
May 2, 2025 |
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ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and KADIN, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday in a milestone step to deepen cooperation between U.S. and Indonesian dairy industries. The MOU outlines a framework for collaboration to support enhanced dairy trade, strengthen commercial cooperation and bolster public nutrition through promoting greater consumption of dairy products, particularly in public programs. Key areas of collaboration include the greater integration of dairy into Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals program, regulatory procedures including on dairy facility registration, data sharing on market trends, information exchange on best practices and technical expertise areas regarding dairy production, and joint public communication efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of dairy nutrition. The agreement also emphasizes support for school milk programs as a catalyst for child health and educational success. “This agreement marks an exciting next chapter in U.S-Indonesia cooperation on trade and dairy,” says Krysta Harden, USDEC president and CEO. “It builds on strong momentum from the U.S.-Indonesia Dairy Partnership Program that USDEC launched in January with U.S. and Indonesian partners in the agriculture and university sectors. It also charts a pathway for U.S. dairy suppliers to more fully complement local Indonesian milk supplies in meeting the country’s evolving nutritional needs during a critical time for U.S.-Indonesia trade relations.” With its focus on areas of mutual collaboration and support for U.S. dairy exports to Indonesia, this agreement complements ongoing trade negotiations between Indonesia and the United States regarding fostering more reciprocal trade flows. “The United States and Indonesia share a mission of promoting dairy as a valuable source of nutrition,” says Gregg Doud, NMPF president and CEO. “The agreement signed (yesterday) commits our industries to join efforts to grow the Indonesian market and support producers in both countries.” The MOU builds on a deepening relationship between the U.S. and Indonesian dairy industries, initially prompted by Harden’s participation as the featured industry guest on a 2023 National Association of State Over the past year, USDEC has led the creation of the U.S.-Indonesia Dairy Partnership Program, which held its first farmer education and training session in January in Indonesia. In collaboration with the New Mexico and Wisconsin state agriculture departments, New Mexico State University, and Indonesian university and dairy company partners, the project is focused on the dissemination of technical educational materials designed to empower small-scale dairy producers in Indonesia to improve the quality and quantity of milk they produce. As those practices are adopted, USDEC notes that U.S. dairy supplies play a vital complementary role to meet Indonesia’s growing dairy needs. CMN |
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Today's Cheese Spot Trading |
Cheese Production U.S. Total March 1.226 bil. lbs. Milk Production U.S. Total March 19.848 bil. lbs. |
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Celebrating Women’s Health Month: Nourishing healthy aging with dairy |
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