Agricultural News
Traceability Looms Large in Ongoing Negotiations with Chinese Government to Accept to US Beef
Fri, 10 Feb 2017 12:19:58 CST
At the end of last year, the Chinese government expressed that it had interest in reopening their markets to American beef. Months later we're still waiting on some sort of an agreement to come out of the negotiations that have since followed. That's all part of the process though according to US Meat Export Federation CEO Phil Seng, who says this deal has been 13 years in the making. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays spoke to Seng about where our two governments are currently in these talks.
"What we're working on right now of course would be the terms of that opening, the terms of sale, if you will," Seng reported. "Frankly, traceability looms very large."
Apparently, having an effective traceback system in place is a very important factor for the Chinese negotiators. Seng says though that we have a voluntary system prepared that producers could enroll in and their product would be exclusively sold to China, something that has already been done in European markets. He says, too, that other questions remain out there that need to be worked through. Overall though, he remains confident that there are possible solutions to all these questions and he's sure the US could deliver the product the Chinese want and finds their greenlight to engage in negotiations as very encouraging.
"I think we have enough in place with our export verification programs to give assurances to our valued customers internationally that we can trace back with our bookend system," Send said. "We have the producers that are willing to do it, we have the product they want, it's just a question of getting it right."
Listen to Ron Hays and Phil Seng of USMEF discuss ongoing negotiations with the Chinese in attempts to open the Asian market to US beef, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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