WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION TRADE TALKS BENEFICIAL FOR AMERICA’S CATTLE INDUSTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 15, 2001) - The new round of trade negotiations agreed to by the U.S. government, at the meetings in Qatar, will greatly benefit U.S. cattle producers, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) said today.

"Global trading rules that grant market access, settle disputes on the basis of science and reduce tariffs are essential for a healthy cattle industry," said Chandler Keys, NCBA vice president for public policy. “We applaud the U.S. government for the progress made during the 4th Ministerial Conference of the world Trade Organization and we look forward to progress in the new round of trade negotiations.”

“During the negotiations,” said Keys, “we intend to also make sure that countries that intend to export more beef into the United States understand that it will not happen unless we receive greater access to export markets. Balance and fairness will be the cornerstone of any and all negotiations.”

“This is the first step in a long process and NCBA is prepared to take an active role in the negotiations,” said Keys. “The greatest potential for expanding beef markets is in international trade. Beef exports account for more than 12 percent of the value of wholesale beef sales - with a more equitable trade environment, we can increase that number.”

“New technologies adopted by U.S. farmers and ranchers enable production capacity to increase each year,” said Keys. “And with world population expected to surpass 9.3 billion people in the next half century, a fifty percent increase, expanding access to these potential customers through trade negotiations becomes ever more critical for American farmers and ranchers.”

“Last year, U.S. beef exports totaled a record $3.6 billion,” said Keys. “China has agreed to cut tariffs on beef from 45% to 10%. That level of reduction provides great incentive for more exports.”

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.