By Ritu Jha-
With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump set to meet on Thursday, Feb. 13, trade and tariffs appear to be the main agenda items, as U.S. exporters have outlined their concerns to the Trump administration. Modi will be arriving on Feb. 12 afternoon.
One such group is the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which has offered its partnership to the administration to review opportunities for strengthening U.S. trade relationships worldwide.
“We believe India represents a positive market opportunity for the U.S. dairy industry to reliably supply its wholesome, safe, nutritious, and affordable dairy products to consumers in India,” said Matt Herrick, IDFA’s executive vice president and chief impact officer.
“To date, U.S. dairy export opportunities to India have been limited due to a combination of non-tariff barriers and exorbitant over-quota tariffs,” Herrick said. “IDFA is encouraging the Trump administration to develop targeted negotiations with markets including India, as U.S. dairy exporters would like to grow their relationships in the region.”
In a report submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, IDFA detailed concerns regarding foreign trade barriers in India. The report noted that U.S. dairy exports to India reached $42 million in 2023, despite restrictions on certain dairy products. IDFA estimates that lifting these restrictions could double that figure, citing significant demand for lactose, casein, and whey protein concentrates and isolates.
India requires sanitary and phytosanitary certification for imported dairy products. Currently, imports must be accompanied by a sanitary import permit from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries, as well as a combined sanitary and veterinary export certificate from the exporting country’s veterinary authority, meeting the requirements of both India’s DAHDF and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
IDFA has expressed concerns about the duplicative nature of these certificate requirements, arguing that they are inconsistent with international standards and not necessarily based on science or risk assessment. The association contends that these evolving requirements create challenges for U.S. dairy exporters and is urging the U.S. government to push for a streamlined and transparent certification process with India.
The IDFA represents the U.S. dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs and contributes $794 billion in economic impact. Its members range from multinational corporations to small dairy businesses and suppliers. In 2023, the United States exported $8 billion in dairy products to 145 countries, with exports accounting for approximately one day’s worth of U.S. milk production each week.
As trade and global competitiveness remain strategic priorities, IDFA members emphasize the importance of open markets, rules-based trading conditions, and fair opportunities to expand U.S. dairy exports.
[Photo courtesy: Linkedin]
