By Andrea Fox of The Dominion Post

Strong words against the New Zealand dairy industry by United States lobbyists trying to keep it out of a trans-Pacific partnership free trade agreement are being viewed as curtain-opening rhetoric.

But associated accusations of a severely anti-competitive landscape in New Zealand are causing concern.

The United States National Milk Producers Federation, which represents the US$35 billion (NZ$49b) dairy farming sector, has told the International Trade Commission, hearing submissions on the proposed eight -nation trade agreement it is "critical all US-New Zealand dairy trade be excluded from the TPP FTA", citing "severe" anti-competitive practices in New Zealand.

The federation argues that one New Zealand company, Fonterra, controls more than 90 per cent of milk production "meaning we are essentially pitted against a monopoly power".

To read the full story on stuff.co.nz, click here.