Yes, indeed, Margaret -- this is an annual report the U. S. Trade
Representative (USTR) prepares. If you compare the language from the 2016
(Obama USTR) and 2017 (Trump USTR) Reports, for the countries whose
Code-supportive legislation is being called a barrier to US trade, the new
language is more strident. Instead of "watching" what other countries are
doing, now we have come to the official declaration that their laws *are* a
trade barrier.

What does this mean in the long run? I do not know -- international trade
reports and policy are not my strong suit.

But I *do* know that Mead Johnson (alone) sells 66% of its products --
billions of dollars worth annually -- outside the USA.  They care an awful
lot about their foreign [to the USA] markets. I *do* know that the language
offered in the USTR Report that challenges the science to obfuscate the
public health implications is the sort of diversionary tactic Big Tobacco
used for YEARS to continue selling their products under the weight of
public health outcry. I *do* know the USTR Report is silent about the huge
tariffs and taxes on cigarettes, cigars, and alcohol that some countries
levy.  The USTR is not suggesting that any of these countries are reducing
"trade barriers" to US-based cigarette and cigar manufacturers with these
big tariffs.

This is NOT new US policy, even if the language -- buried as it is in a
humongous report -- is now more aggressive.
This shows us -- again, I suppose, are we surprised? --that lobbyists
protecting the commercial interests of Formula and Big Pharma are
relentless, deep in their reach, and very successful at what they do.

Ugh ugh ugh

-- 
Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA
Director, Human Milk Banking Assn of North America (2015-17)
Adjunct Professor, Drexel Univ, Public Policy of Breastfeeding
"IBCLCs empower women and save babies' lives!"-Ursuline Singleton

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