U.S.-CANADIAN CATTLEMEN PROMISE TO PUSH FOR ACTION

DENVER, (October 19, 1998) – Cattlemen from both sides of the border agreed here today to push their respective governments to take action on important trade issues that now stand in the way of fair trade between United States and Canada.

More important, cattlemen were encouraged by U.S. and Canadian government officials also attending the session who told them: "(We) think you have succeeded in getting the attention of both governments."

To expedite government action on trade issues, U.S. and Canadian cattlemen agreed to revitalize a cross-border, animal health committee to address regional issues and establish a timetable for resolving them. Once this working group is formed it will coordinate its activities with a federal government-to-government trade group that began work earlier this year.

Represented at the meeting were the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), state and provincial cattlemen’s associations, and U.S. and Canadian state, provincial and federal governments.

State cattle associations from specified border states, as well as their Canadian counterparts and government officials from both sides will be part of the bilateral working group. Both sides will push their governments to establish a specific timetable under which disease trade-barriers will be eliminated and fair, free trade made a reality.

U.S. cattlemen assert that Canada has used anaplasmosis, bluetongue, brucellosis and tuberculosis concerns as trade barriers. Canadian concerns about these diseases have restricted the free movement of feeder cattle from border states north into Canada.

The "border states" – Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington – are to be included under a trade regionalization request.

"We believe in free trade, but it also has to be fair trade," NCBA President Clark Willingham said during the meeting. "We also believe that in trade with Canada the American beef producer has gotten the short end of the stick so far."

One of the working group’s top priorities will be to get a prompt response from Canada to a year-old request from USDA-APHIS to recognize trade regionalization in the United States. Regionalization allows one country to recognize an area within another country as disease free.

In response to a direct request for more information concerning the Canadian cattle industry, CCA agreed to work to implement monthly cattle-on-feed reports by January 1999. This would be in addition to biannual inventory and weekly slaughter reports that could be more fully integrated with USDA information, and thus be of greater value to producers on both sides of the border.

In an effort to level the playing field, both sides agree they need to standardize regulations regarding the use of animal health products in the United States and Canada.

In addition, both sides need to document and communicate that equivalent inspection standards used in meat packing plants ensure delivery of a safe and wholesome food supply throughout North America.

NCBA and CCA also agree to:

• Work with their respective governments to end grain subsidies and re-examine restrictions to the movement of feedgrains and forages. Canadian cattlemen said they shared with U.S. cattlemen the frustration over Canadian Wheat Board policies.
• Apply pressure to U.S. Meat Export Federation and the Canadian Beef Export Federation to work collaboratively – particularly to develop European Union markets – within the bounds of funding restrictions.
• To collaborate as appropriate on technology issues.
• Continue collaboration on building beef demand strategies.

NCBA did share with the Canadians that it would aggressively pursue country-of-origin labeling and work to reserve use of USDA yield and quality grading for use by U.S. beef producers.

While CCA disagreed with this approach, Willingham said: "We think the USDA grade is our brand and that the USDA grade means ‘U.S. grown’."

Photo for available for reprint:

Officers from state cattle associations, as well as state, provincial and federal governments from the United States and Canada met in Denver Oct. 19 to discuss obstacles to free and fair trade. Both sides committed to push their respective governments to quickly resolve differences and establish a timetable for doing so. Pictured from left to right: Mary Burke, president, Washington Cattlemen’s Association; Judy Woodie, president Idaho Cattle Association; and Lynn Cornwell, president, Montana Stockgrowers Association.

-- NCBA --

Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the marketing organization and trade association for America’s one million cattle farmers and ranchers. With offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization representing the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.