Russ Feingold: “I am pleased today to show my support for the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act of 2003 by being an original cosponsor of…”

“I am pleased today to show my support for the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act of 2003 by being an original cosponsor of Senator Craig's bill. This legislation will prevent foreign dairy products from continuing to circumvent U.S. trade laws. Currently, milk protein concentrate, MPC, is not subject to the same quotas required of other dairy products. Foreign dairy producers have begun exploiting this loophole by blending previously processed dairy proteins with nonfat dry milk to boost its protein content so that it qualifies as milk protein concentrate. This allows the milk protein concentrate to circumvent any laws that would subject the imports to tariff rate quotas. The result has been a flood of foreign dairy blends being imported in the U.S. market, displacing sales of domestic dairy products and lowering prices for American dairy farmers. As milk prices are at historic lows, down about 38 percent from prices last year, this flood of foreign dairy products has put a strain on many of the dairy farmers in my State of Wisconsin.”