WASHINGTON — Ahead of a new presidential administration taking over in the United States, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shared with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team the association’s federal policy priorities.

IDFA president and chief executive officer Michael Dykes said IDFA’s members want to see the new administration help US dairy drive innovation, reduce barriers to business efficiency and open new market access for healthy, nutritious US dairy products.

Dykes said the organization looks forward to a productive working relationship with the incoming administration.

“US dairy is the most productive in the world, but workforce challenges, dwindling export market opportunities and burdensome regulations are creating uncertainty for our industry,” Dykes said. “By presenting these policy priorities, we are looking for areas of collaboration with the Trump administration so US dairy farmers and processors can usher in a new golden age in healthy, high-quality US dairy nutrition.”

The association’s leadership met with the president-elect’s transition team earlier this month.

IDFA noted that the US dairy manufacturing and marketing industry supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact.