"In the era of tariff-free imported dairy products, a breakthrough must be found through premium and public catering"

Published Feb 2, 2026

Tridge summary

[Agricultural and Fisheries News=Reporter Kim Sin-ji] As the difficulties for dairy farmers are intensifying due to a decrease in contracted quantities from dairy companies and the zero-tariff treatment of imported dairy products, voices are growing louder that premium product diversification and activation of consumption through public catering should be pursued. Since last year, when Namyang Dairy reduced its raw milk contracted quantities by 17%, and this year, when Maeil Dairy reduced its quantities by 12%, a sense of crisis has been rising in the dairy industry. In particular, as sterilized cow's milk from imports is being imported without tariffs starting this year, the demand for urgent measures to expand milk consumption is increasing. In fact, the 2.4% tariff on U.S. milk has been completely abolished starting this month, and European milk.

Original content

A Single Voice from the Dairy Industry Not only dairy farmers and dairy companies, but also government efforts and budget are needed. Amidst the worsening hardships of dairy farmers due to the reduction in contract volumes by dairy companies and the zero-tariff treatment of imported dairy products, there is a growing call for the need to activate consumption through the diversification of premium products and public catering. Since last year, when Namyang Dairy reduced its raw milk contract volume by 17%, and this year, when Maeil Dairy reduced it by 12%, a sense of crisis has been rising in the dairy industry. In particular, as sterilized imported milk has been imported duty-free since this year, there is an urgent demand for measures to expand milk consumption. Indeed, the tariff on U.S. milk, which was 2.4%, has been completely abolished starting this month, and European milk is scheduled to be imported duty-free starting July. Professor Hong-gu Lee from the Department of ...

Source: Aflnews