WASHINGTON — The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and office of the US Trade Representative on Jan. 8 reappointed International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) leaders to advisory committees.

IDFA president and chief executive officer Michael Dykes once again received a spot on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade, marking his third consecutive term. IDFA senior vice president of trade and workforce policy Becky Rasdall Vargas was named to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Processed Foods for the third time in her career.

The APAC was created to provide the administration with advice on US trade policy, such as trade agreements and objectives. ATACs involve sharing technical advice and information about agricultural commodities and products.

Earlier in his career, Dykes also served on the APAC for Trade during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Dykes said presenting trade policy perspectives for the US dairy industry is an honor.

“Trade is enormously important to the future of our industry, and we need to do more in our trade policy efforts to reach the 95 percent of potential customers living outside the United States,” Dykes said. “I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration on how to develop new agreements and frameworks that facilitate rules-based trade relationships to make US dairy even more competitive around the world.”

Vargas also said she was honored and grateful to represent the US dairy industry.

“IDFA recognizes the US dairy industry’s needs for equitable and transparent agreements that provide certainty and open markets while we continue to expand existing markets and eliminate technical barriers where we lack agreements,” she said. “I look forward to bringing that perspective to the ATAC and continuing to ensure the trade needs of the dairy industry are well represented.”

IDFA noted the US dairy industry relies on trade agreements to open new markets and increase exports, with the US now exporting $8 billion worth of dairy products to 145 countries.