Around 15% of U.S. dairy output went to the export market in 2019. The industry wants to work with the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) office to grow that number and improve overall margins for dairy producers. In a letter sent to USTR in response to a request for input on its “National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers” report, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) leaders called on the office to continue efforts to lower those barriers around the world. Building a “level playing field” is of utmost importance in the role of U.S. dairy products on the global stage with future trade agreements in the long term. In the short term, enforcing current trade deals — like the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) — is the highest export priority for the dairy sector, the letter said. See more.