Thank you Sen. John Cornyn for being a lead cosponsor on a senate resolution calling for Japan to base their trade policies on sound science. U.S. beef has been getting the short end of the stick for too long - and that means Texans are suffering!
Home to 14 percent of the nation's beef supply, you can bet your bottom dollar these discriminatory practices are negatively impacting the Texas beef industry and our state's economy.
Let's hope the administration says enough is enough and we get some much-needed equitable treatment.
Showing posts with label Texas Beef Trade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas Beef Trade. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Fair Trade for All Industries
Every once in a while, a perfect moment comes along to make a point – an opportunity to drive a message about fairness and not being hypocritical. During a recent hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns had such an occasion while hearing testimony on Toyota’s problems.
Johanns pondered what Japan would think if the U.S. treated the Japanese car company the way the Japanese treated and continue to treat the American beef industry. Johanns’ testimony can be seen here; it lasts about four minutes, but is worth the watch. He starts getting into this issue at just after the two-minute mark.
Additionally, a recent CattleNetwork story reported that “U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, making a trip to Japan, will argue that U.S. regulators are treating Toyota more fairly than their Japanese counterparts treat American beef, news service AFP reported.”
Maybe Sec. LaHood needs to do what we did in Texas when Canada and Mexico reached an agreement to accept Canadian cattle and left Texas and the rest of the U.S. cattle producers sitting on the sidelines – take bold and swift action! We need these guys to push this issue and defend our consumers, our beef industry and our motorists – huge parts of the Texas economy that result in significant jobs and investment.
Johanns pondered what Japan would think if the U.S. treated the Japanese car company the way the Japanese treated and continue to treat the American beef industry. Johanns’ testimony can be seen here; it lasts about four minutes, but is worth the watch. He starts getting into this issue at just after the two-minute mark.
Additionally, a recent CattleNetwork story reported that “U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, making a trip to Japan, will argue that U.S. regulators are treating Toyota more fairly than their Japanese counterparts treat American beef, news service AFP reported.”
Maybe Sec. LaHood needs to do what we did in Texas when Canada and Mexico reached an agreement to accept Canadian cattle and left Texas and the rest of the U.S. cattle producers sitting on the sidelines – take bold and swift action! We need these guys to push this issue and defend our consumers, our beef industry and our motorists – huge parts of the Texas economy that result in significant jobs and investment.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Taiwan expands access to U.S. beef imports
More good news for Texas ranchers as USDA and the offices of the U.S. Trade Representative announced yesterday that Taiwan has expanded the type of beef cuts it will now import from the United States. I’ve always said our trade policies must be science-based and this is a step in the right direction, especially coming off the heels of Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin’s effort last week to try to convince the Taiwanese government to reconsider its decision to expand access to U.S. beef imports.
Contrary to what Mayor Lung-bin and a consumer group in Taiwan think, the U.S. does not want to dump its trash in Taiwan. The beef products we will offer Taiwan are the same ones that are offered and demanded by U.S. consumers.
The Taiwanese government deserves a sincere “thank you” for recognizing that trade decisions should be based not only on science, but also on demand. The promising demand in Taiwan will result in increased prices for U.S. cattle producers who, along with other agriculture producers, have been suffering extensively this past year.
To read USDA’s press release on this announcement, click here.
Contrary to what Mayor Lung-bin and a consumer group in Taiwan think, the U.S. does not want to dump its trash in Taiwan. The beef products we will offer Taiwan are the same ones that are offered and demanded by U.S. consumers.
The Taiwanese government deserves a sincere “thank you” for recognizing that trade decisions should be based not only on science, but also on demand. The promising demand in Taiwan will result in increased prices for U.S. cattle producers who, along with other agriculture producers, have been suffering extensively this past year.
To read USDA’s press release on this announcement, click here.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Taiwan Reopens its borders to U.S. Beef
As the national leader in beef cattle production, Texas welcomes expanded markets for our top commodity.
When Taiwan recently announced it reopened its borders to U.S. beef, the news was good for Texas cattlemen and the state's economy. With cattle prices and margins at dangerously low levels and our feed lot system having suffered tremendous losses over the past year, we can sure use more good news like that found in the article below.
Taiwan Lifts Ban On U.S. Beef Import
10/23/2009, RTT News
Taiwan lifted a partial ban on importing beef from the United States.
At present, Taiwan only allows imports of U.S. boneless beef that contain no specified risk materials (SRMs) and from cattle younger than 30 months.
Under an agreement signed Thursday by both sides in Washington DC, U.S. bone-in beef, ground beef, intestines and processed beef that have not been contaminated with SRMs will be allowed to enter Taiwan with effect from November 10.
The south-East Asian island nation's health department has stipulated that all imported beef products will have to carry a label of approval from the U.S. Agriculture Department.
The Vice-Minister of Taiwan's Department of Health, Hsiao Mei-ling, told a news conference Friday that Taiwanese importers could apply to import U.S. bone-in beef and organs after Taipei and Washington have made a formal announcement of the protocol within the next 10 days.
Taiwan imposed restrictions on US beef imports in 2003 after the United States reported its first case of mad-cow disease
When Taiwan recently announced it reopened its borders to U.S. beef, the news was good for Texas cattlemen and the state's economy. With cattle prices and margins at dangerously low levels and our feed lot system having suffered tremendous losses over the past year, we can sure use more good news like that found in the article below.
Taiwan Lifts Ban On U.S. Beef Import
10/23/2009, RTT News
Taiwan lifted a partial ban on importing beef from the United States.
At present, Taiwan only allows imports of U.S. boneless beef that contain no specified risk materials (SRMs) and from cattle younger than 30 months.
Under an agreement signed Thursday by both sides in Washington DC, U.S. bone-in beef, ground beef, intestines and processed beef that have not been contaminated with SRMs will be allowed to enter Taiwan with effect from November 10.
The south-East Asian island nation's health department has stipulated that all imported beef products will have to carry a label of approval from the U.S. Agriculture Department.
The Vice-Minister of Taiwan's Department of Health, Hsiao Mei-ling, told a news conference Friday that Taiwanese importers could apply to import U.S. bone-in beef and organs after Taipei and Washington have made a formal announcement of the protocol within the next 10 days.
Taiwan imposed restrictions on US beef imports in 2003 after the United States reported its first case of mad-cow disease
Friday, May 15, 2009
More work to be done on U.S./EU beef trade
On Wednesday, the U.S. signed an agreement with the European Union to increase the amount of high-quality beef exports from cattle that are free of growth-promoting hormones. The new protocol will allow an extra 20,000 metric tons of beef, duty-free, and increase to 45,000 metric tons after three years.
While everyone recognizes the benefits of increased trade opportunities, we must also acknowledge that the best trade policies are ones based on sound science – not political science.
For almost 20 years, the EU has imposed trade barriers on U.S. beef citing that beef from cattle treated with growth hormones is a health hazard, regardless of the fact that the Food and Drug Administration, through scientific testing, has deemed these hormones to be safe.
While I appreciate the work that has been done in enhancing current beef trade, I hope these actions are indications of forthcoming progress that will ultimately result in scientifically based trade parameters.
While everyone recognizes the benefits of increased trade opportunities, we must also acknowledge that the best trade policies are ones based on sound science – not political science.
For almost 20 years, the EU has imposed trade barriers on U.S. beef citing that beef from cattle treated with growth hormones is a health hazard, regardless of the fact that the Food and Drug Administration, through scientific testing, has deemed these hormones to be safe.
While I appreciate the work that has been done in enhancing current beef trade, I hope these actions are indications of forthcoming progress that will ultimately result in scientifically based trade parameters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)