U.S. Import Restrictions: Alternatives to Present Dairy Programs

The need to consider alternatives to the present system of dairy import quotas is discussed. Interrelated programs of price supports, marketing orders, and import quotas have been effective in insuring an adequate supply of domestically produced milk and in stabilizing prices for dairy products. The cost of this self-sufficiency and price stability has been higher prices to the consumer and program costs to the government. Several alternative courses of action are available: (1) continued policy of import quotas for dairy products along with the price support program, (2) free trade in dairy products in the United States and abroad, and (3) open U.S. market policy with no import quotas or price support program.