REGARDING A REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR THE RANCHERS-CATTLEMEN ACTION LEGAL FOUNDATION

In response to a request received by NCBA President Clark Willingham, NCBA will expedite consideration of a request from the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Foundation (R-CALF) to support petitions for import relief against Canada. R-CALF plans to file the petitions with the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce. The petitions are the first step in the process to pursue an anti-dumping and unfair trade practices case against Canada. NCBA will forward the proposal to its International Markets Committee and Executive Committee for review and consideration. The consideration of the request should be completed by the NCBA Executive Committee meeting November 3. The request will also be considered by the CATL Fund, the entity responsible for advising NCBA on legal issues.

Each NCBA affiliate has representatives on the International Markets Committee who will be receiving background information on the R-CALF request. Additionally, each state affiliate should promptly consider its own involvement.

NCBA recognizes the importance of trade issues to the cattle industry and is currently working on several issues pending in Congress. There are two issues being considered by Congress that deserve immediate support: meat import labeling and mandatory boxed beef price reporting. The legislation will provide significant positive benefit to the industry. Every cattle producer should call his Congressmen and urge support for these legislative initiatives.

-- 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.