USA – Argentina trade deal opens door for dairy exports

USA – The USA and Argentina have finalized a trade agreement that modifies tariff rates, sets a cheese quota and addresses regulatory requirements for certain USA dairy exports.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) welcomed the USA-Argentina Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment.

The agreement includes specific provisions aimed at improving market access for U.S. dairy products while protecting the use of common food names that have become a growing point of contention in global trade.

As part of the deal, Argentina committed to eliminating tariffs that currently reach as high as 28% on select dairy products, including milk powders, dairy proteins, lactose and other dairy ingredients.

The agreement also establishes a 1,000-metric-ton quota for certain USA cheeses entering the Argentine market.

In addition to tariff relief, the agreement addresses nontariff barriers that can complicate exports. Argentina agreed not to impose processing facility registration requirements on USA dairy plants and to provide explicit protections for 39 common cheese names, including Parmesan.

“The commitments secured in the USA-Argentina reciprocal trade deal bring new, real opportunities for our dairy exports to South America,” said Krysta Harden, USDEC president and CEO.

“USDEC appreciates USTR’s (U.S. trade representative’s) hard work in securing agreements that lower tariffs and meaningfully address nontariff barriers, particularly those to protect common cheese names. We look forward to building our market presence in Argentina as the agreement is implemented.”

Beyond tariff and market‑access details, industry organizations say trade agreements such as this one can shape broader market conditions, including milk demand and longer‑term stability.

“Trade deals like this bring dairy farmers promise for the future,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF.

“Dairy farms operate 365 days a year, and the U.S. negotiating team is keeping pace to secure new market access. NMPF will continue to work with the Administration as all the reciprocal trade agreements are translated into real results on the ground for our farmers.”

Protection of common cheese names was also a central priority for CCFN, especially as the European Union continues to pursue trade agreements that seek to restrict the use of terms U.S. producers consider generic.

“Argentina’s commitment to protect 39 common cheese names and 10 generic meat terms could not have come at a more important time,” said Jaime Castaneda, CCFN executive director.

“As the European Union is advancing toward implementation of its trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of countries, our ability to use common names is increasingly at risk. We cannot thank Ambassador (Jamieson) Greer and the USTR negotiating team enough for the foresight and leadership in protecting U.S. exporters’ rights.”

The Argentina agreement follows recent reciprocal trade deals the U.S. signed with El Salvador and Guatemala that also include commitments to prevent barriers to U.S. dairy exports.

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