“With so many eggs in so few baskets, whenever something goes wrong – which is inevitable even when nobody is at fault – families find themselves scrambling. That happened early in 2022 when contamination entered a Michigan facility that makes about 40 percent of America’s baby formula. Trade protectionism all but eliminated other options for many parents, who suddenly found empty shelves and sky-high prices for an essential item that many of them were already struggling to afford – while families in other countries were unaffected.

In response, Congress passed the Formula Act in the summer of 2022. The act eased formula tariffs and loosened never-needed labeling requirements and other import restrictions, but it was temporary. It expired at the end of 2022, leaving families still vulnerable to the cascading consequences that ensue if one thing goes wrong at only one plant.”