USDEC is asking for member input related to a new dairy safeguard investigation initiated by Colombia. On June 21, 2021, Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MCIT), Directorate of Foreign Trade, published its decision to initiate a bilateral safeguard investigation on imports of powdered milk from the United States. This investigation intends to determine if the increase of U.S. dry milk imports represents a threat to Colombia's domestic dairy sector. 

The dairy products subject to this investigation are classified under the HS Codes 0402.10.10.00, 0402.10.90.00, 0402.21.11.00, 0402.21.19.00, 0402.21.91.00, 0402.21.99.00, 0402.29.11.00, 0402.29.19.00, 0402.29.91.00 and 0402.29.99.00.

According to supporting documentation included in the safeguard investigation, on March 8, 2021, the Colombian Ranchers Federation (FEDEGAN) requested that provisional and permanent bilateral safeguards in the form of an increase in the tariff rate be imposed on U.S. dairy exports classified under the HS codes above. FEDEGAN's petition to request safeguards against U.S. dairy products is based on a significant increase in imports of dry milk over the last three years.

Please contact USDEC

This investigation will be conducted within the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement framework and the Colombian Decree 1820 of 2010 that establishes the applicable procedure for this case. If your company is exporting to Colombia any of the products included in this safeguard investigation and received a request from the Government of Colombia to provide information, please contact Jaime Castaneda, Tony Rice, Carolina Nascimento, Clarice Nagata and Oscar Ferrara. USDEC urges companies to work closely with their customers in Colombia to provide comments and trade data to MCIT.

In addition, we are asking members to submit information to USDEC on all shipments sent to Colombia from 2018 to 2021 and information regarding future lots (sold but not yet shipped) by no later than Wednesday, July 7. USDEC is gathering relevant trade data and commercial information to draft and submit a response to this investigation. All information shared with USDEC will be handled with absolute confidentiality.