"Initial steps are being taken to challenge the questionable probe into EU dairy products. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Italy, and Romania came under the ministry’s scrutiny after their governments sought a negotiated solution. Rather than using the struggling economy to shield domestic companies from steep tariffs, these countries have become 'hostages' to an unrelated trade dossier.

Milk production occurs in all EU countries a significant share of the EU’s agricultural output. Total EU milk production is estimated at around 155 million tonnes per year, with Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, and Ireland being the main producers. Together, these six countries account for nearly 70% of the EU's total milk production.

Although the overall dairy herd in the EU has been decreasing in recent years, milk yield per cow has improved. In 2020, there were 20 million cows in the EU, each producing an average of 7,300 kg of milk annually."