US to block import of Australian milk solids

US lawmakers are stepping up efforts to limit milk protein solids from Australia and other major producers, saying that the imports have depressed US milk prices.

Dairy state lawmakers are redoubling efforts to rescue the domestic industry from collapsed prices, including higher price supports and tariffs on imported casein and caseinates, much of it from Australia.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing for restrictions, saying that foreign producers made use of legal loopholes by changing milk into solid.

Milk solids are not subject to the laws, and after being imported it is changed back into milk, Schumer said.

The US has increased dairy supports by hundreds of millions of dollars and has recently reactivated its Dairy Export Incentive Programme, which is strongly opposed by Australia and many other milk producing countries.