(NAFB.com) – The U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation expressed their strong disappointment with a preliminary ruling by Colombia’s government that unfairly targets U.S. dairy exporters. The move advances baseless claims that U.S. milk powder was unduly subsidized. The groups called on U.S. trade officials to take immediate action to challenge Colombia’s unjust decision and defend American dairy farmers and exporters. Based on the Colombian announcement, the preliminary findings call for an additional 4.86 percent tariff to be implemented on U.S. milk powder imports. That’s despite the fact that the Colombian government admitted that there are “many factors negatively affecting Colombia’s dairy sector.” Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF, says these findings show that Colombia does not respect its trade commitments. “Instead of working with us to resolve this issue in a mutually beneficial way, Colombia chose instead to move forward with a meritless investigation,” Doud says.