About Us

About_USDEC_landing_page

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Dairy Management Inc. founded USDEC in 1995 and, through the dairy checkoff program, is the organization’s primary funder. USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service provides export activity support, and membership dues fund the Council’s trade policy and lobbying activities.

USDEC’s mission is to enhance demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients by securing access and assisting suppliers to meet market needs that facilitate sales. We accomplish this through research and collaboration with members, government, academia and numerous related organizations whose common goal is to ensure the health and vitality of the U.S. dairy industry.

Backed by a staff of dairy trade specialists, USDEC provides an array of services designed to boost the sale of U.S. products:

  • A team of experts monitors the regulatory climate around the world to identify changes to tariffs, product standards, import requirements and other market access matters to facilitate trouble-free transactions.
  • USDEC trade policy professionals work to achieve the best possible outcome for U.S. dairy products in trade negotiations and resolve ongoing trade disputes and threats to U.S. dairy export growth.
  • The global marketing team develops programs and tactics that promote the use of U.S. dairy products, emphasizing the core principles of collaboration, consistency, quality and commitment to customer needs.
  • The strategy and insights team seeks out market opportunities for U.S. dairy products and, through research, collaboration and an adept grasp of market dynamics, develops specific strategies for U.S. suppliers to capitalize on those opportunities.