Agricultural News
Everything You Need to Know About Trump's Deal with the EU to Increase Market Access for US Beef
Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:19:15 CDT
This past Friday, President Donald Trump presided over a news conference announcing a deal between the European Union and the United States that will increase access for US beef exports into the EU. For about a decade, the US has exported beef to the EU as part of a 45,000 mt. quota that was specifically established by the EU for the US. However, Kent Bacus, director of international trade and market access for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, explains that quota has been eroded over the years as other nations have worked to meet the specs outlined in that quota - which did not specifically name the US - allowing these other countries a foot in the door. He spoke with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about the President's announcement and how the deal that has been brokered will reverse that erosion of US market share in the EU.
According to Bacus, the deal that was announced on Friday takes that existing quota from a decade ago and "puts a fence around a substantial potion of it for the US." The deal still has to be approved by the EU's parliament and down the road, Bacus says the US will have to eventually engage in negotiations with the EU to settle its terms of trade. This will be especially difficult to do as the Europeans adamantly refuse to include agriculture in any trade talks with the US. Bacus says this is a protectionist tactic to keep American ag products from competing with the continent's domestic production, but insists it is an injustice the US Trade Representative's Office is pursuing diligently.
"That will be a major battle. China's been tough, but the Europeans are going to be extremely tough. So, we have our work cut out for us. But we have a good story to tell and we need to tell it," he said, remarking on the science-based evidence that backs the quality of American agriculture. "Consumers need to realize food doesn't just come from the grocery store - it comes from our farms and ranches and we're doing everything we can to provide a safe, high-quality product them."
Listen to Bacus' full discussion with Hays as he explains the nature of this new agreement between the US and the EU, 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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