USMEF: Top NAFTA Priority for Red Meat Industry is to Preserve Full Market Access

USMEF: Top NAFTA Priority for Red Meat Industry is to Preserve Full Market Access

This week, trade officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada opened their first round of meetings aimed at renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Thad Lively, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for trade access, explains that U.S. beef, pork and lamb currently enjoy full access to Mexico and Canada, at zero duty and with no significant product restrictions. It is essential that this level of access is preserved, because these countries account for 40% of U.S. pork exports, nearly 30% of U.S. beef exports and more than 80% of U.S. lamb exports (based on January-June 2017 volumes). Maintaining reciprocal duty-free access for agricultural goods is on the list of NAFTA objectives recently published by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

 

 

 

While preserving full market access is the U.S. red meat industry’s leading priority in the NAFTA negotiations, Lively notes that the agreement’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter should be updated to reflect current scientific and technical standards. USMEF would also like to see NAFTA updated to accommodate e-commerce.

For more information, visit www.usmef.org

 

Latest News

Biden Administration Restores Wildlife Protections
Biden Administration Restores Wildlife Protections

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to reinstate rules protecting endangered plants and animals, action that would reverse changes made during the Trump Administration that weakened the Endangered Species Act.

Across Breed EPD Adjustment Factors
Across Breed EPD Adjustment Factors

EPDs from multiple breeds can be compared by adding/subtracting the appropriate adjustment factors to the EPDs resulting from the most recent genetic evaluations for each of 18 breeds.

APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies
APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies

The livestock industry continues to grapple with the first confirmed cases of HPAI in cattle, while federal and state agencies continue to assure consumers there's no concern about the safety of the U.S. milk supply.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

USDA Authorizes CRP Graze and Hay Donations to Wildfire Victims
USDA Authorizes CRP Graze and Hay Donations to Wildfire Victims

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants can donate emergency grazing authority to ranchers in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas impacted by recent wildfires.

New Guide Helps Producers Maximize Values of Cull Cows
New Guide Helps Producers Maximize Values of Cull Cows

A new resource developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax helps cattle producers maximize profitability from their culling decisions.