Well, we’re in some difficult times now, but hopefully they won’t last too long. It seems like everyone has taken issues personally, which doesn’t help solve them.
I think in times like this, farmers and ranchers, trade organizations and checkoff programs need to rally together to promote our products, a couple of which are beef and lamb.
There are a number of countries around the world who have not been treating the U.S. in a fair manner. Some won’t even let the U.S. bring beef or lamb into their countries, and they claim to be our friends.
It is easy to see why they are acting this way, as everyone knows our beef and lamb is superior, and if their citizens get a taste of it, they will want more.
In changing times – and these countries are going to have to change – we need a full force promotion for beef, lamb and other ag products. I realize there is already a lot being done, as far as promotion goes, but every bit helps.
A number of countries are imposing tariff and non-tariff restrictions on American beef which will hinder us from exporting beef to these countries.
The European Union placed non-scientific “Green Deal” restrictions on U.S. beef, which diminished our market opportunities.
Vietnam placed a 50 percent tariff on U.S. beef. One would think they would get tired of eating water buffalo.
Australia and New Zealand both have tariff rates of 10 percent on beef. Australia has sold over $29 billion of its beef to America. While this entails lean beef for hamburger, the U.S. is not able to sell any beef in Australia due to non-scientific restrictions.
Thailand has a 50 percent tariff on U.S. beef. I can see Thailand’s growing middle class really liking U.S. beef.
We have Brazil and Paraguay with their history of foot and mouth disease which still have U.S. market access. I think it’s really absurd to let them bring any meat into our country.
Another issue is extreme animal rights groups have started an aggressive campaign to change the way livestock are raised, housed, doctored and slaughtered. Basically, they want the U.S. meat industry to go out of business.
I think some good news for the beef industry is it appears beef and pork from Canada and Mexico – since they are covered in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) already – will not be subject to tariffs. Goods and services covered in the USMCA are not affected, and only products outside of the agreement will be subject to the 25 percent tariff.
This is regarded as separate from the tariffs announced on April 1 – I sure hope it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day joke.
You know, 30 years ago, the facts on beef were out there, but they were not substantiated. Now, with all of the money the U.S. has spent on scientific research regarding beef, we have proven facts that American beef and lamb are high-quality products.
It is up to all of us to use these proven facts on taste, tenderness, healthiness, vitamins and protein to tell the story of our beef and lamb. Just giving out a sample and a recipe is outdated, we now have the facts.
Dennis Sun is the publisher of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, a weekly agriculture newspaper available online and in print.
