International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Statement on the White House’s Reciprocal Tariff Announcement
April 3, 2025 | 2 min to read
Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), emphasized that the U.S. dairy industry, exporting over $8 billion annually to 145 countries, relies on strong trade relationships. While supporting President Trump’s trade initiatives, she warned that broad tariffs could threaten investments and increase costs for businesses and consumers. Vargas urged the administration to collaborate with dairy stakeholders to enhance U.S. dairy’s global competitiveness, which is vital for rural economies.
WASHINGTON — Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released the following statement in response to President Trump’s press briefing on reciprocal tariffs:
“The U.S. dairy industry exports more than $8 billion of high-quality dairy products every year to approximately 145 countries around the world. To meet growing global demand, dairy businesses have invested $8 billion in new processing capacity here in the United States—creating jobs, strengthening rural economies, and positioning America as the world’s leading dairy supplier. This growth depends on strong trade relationships and access to essential ingredients, finished goods, packaging, and equipment to provide Americans with safe, affordable, and nutritious dairy foods and beverages.
“IDFA supports the Trump Administration’s efforts to hold trading partners accountable and expand market access for U.S. dairy. However, broad and prolonged tariffs on our top trading partners and growing markets will risk undermining our investments, raising costs for American businesses and consumers, and creating uncertainty for American dairy farmers and rural communities. We urge the administration to engage directly with dairy stakeholders and swiftly pursue resolutions with our trading partners that strengthen U.S. dairy’s global competitiveness.”
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 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.