Casein exports attacked

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 10

Casein exports attacked

NZPA Washington Washington dairymen are making renewed attempts to choke off imports of casein, the bulk of which come from New Zealand. The National Milk Producers Federation has urged the United States Secretary of Agriculture (Mr Robert Bergland) to establish a zero level quota for casein. At present casein has unrestricted entry. The Federation is Seeking action under the 1 9 3 3 Agricultural Adjustment Act which provides for a federal International Tariff Commission (1.T.C.) hearing, to determine whether imports are hurting the domestic dairy industry. New Zealand sources have said they saw the federation’s action as part of a continuing campaign to restrict casein imports. While it could not be ignored, they noted that a similar request several months ago had been declined by Mr Berg land. At the same time as Mr Bergland fended off the milk producers, his department promised to keep casein imports

under review. Casein, a milk protein, is not made in the United States and requirements are met totally by imports.

Last year, New- Zealand supplied 42,694 tonnes of casein and caseinates, which was 66.8 per cent of all imports.

The casein earned, almost SSOM, and after meat was New Zealand’s second most valuable export item to the United States.