Beef producing countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Mexico are gaining greater access into Japan thanks to lowered tariffs, giving those exporters a significant advantage over U.S. beef producers.
The Republican congressman whose district spans one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border, says over 1,000 ranchers and farmers will be impacted if plans to build a border wall proceed.
“There's no other market that can absorb the beef volume and the value of what we're selling into Japan,” said Kent Bacus, NCBA director of trade and market access. “We have level the playing field."
Readers of Drovers share their thoughts on a border wall through story and Facebook comments. Here is just a sampling of what farmers and ranchers are saying.
A wreck in southern Mexico involving a truck hauling cattle and a semi carrying more than 100 undocumented Central American migrants resulted in one person dying and cattle being scattered.
Mexico historically has been an important source of feeder cattle for U.S. cattlemen, with feeder calf imports of approximately 1 million head a year since the mid-1980s.
President Donald Trump said he would soon tell Congress of plans to terminate the existing North American Free Trade Agreement, a move that would give lawmakers a six-month window to ratify a new regional trade pact.
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is expected to be officially signed Friday, but Mexico first wants the U.S. to lift its metals tariffs, says Jim Wiesemeyer of Pro Farmer.
