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[Bull Burger]

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Canadian beef producers were not expecting the ruling by Judge Richard Cebull on Thursday, when he issued an injunction stopping the movement of cattle from Canada into the United States scheduled for March 7. A closer look might have revealed a close relationship between the Federal Judge and R-Calf, the activist cattleman's group. It was no coincidence R-Calf brought the lawsuit in Billings Montana, where the organization is based and also the home of the Federal Judge.



Judge Cebull heard the legal arguments Thursday morning but indications are he had already made up his mind long before the legal arguments were presented. The ruling was issued before the arguments were completed and the 28 page opinion by the Judge was available in a matter of a couple hours after the hearing.



The ruling and the delay in the border opening, places the United States logically in an awkward and contradictory position with Japan. The assumption of a remaining food safety issue with Canadian beef brought into the U.S., also would mean there remains a food safety issue for the Japanese importing American beef. Scientist and food safety experts can find no support for these assumptions as set for in the R-Calf arguments.



USDA was silent at week's end about its plans for continuing this battle. The logical move would be an emergency motion to the Federal appellate court to overrule Judge Cebull's decision. Experts believe the Judge's 28 page opinion is flawed and vulnerable to a reversal by the appellate court.



USDA might be sensitive to political pressures emerging from Congress supporting the ruling and turning increasingly hostile towards the Japanese and their ban on American beef. Several members of Congress openly linked the Canadian border opening to the Japanese border opening.



The billions of dollars of damage and havoc wreaked on the beef industry by an issue with very little substance, is unparalleled in modern times. No human in this country has suffered ill from BSE. No science indicates a looming danger to consumers of beef from countries where BSE exists with appropriate safety controls. Even beef or muscle from a BSE animal is not thought to transmit the disease to person. The time has long past to drop mad cow from the emotional and political arena and resume normalized beef production.


http://www.agcenter.com/cattlereport.asp

[Sandhusker]

[don]

i think usda will be very sensitive to producer sentiment and just leave the injunction to go to trial sometime in the next year or so.

[Tam]

[Oldtimer]

[Sandhusker]

Tam, "Maybe this is the same reason that Japan is not willing to import from the US. Is this reason stopping the same Senators that passed the bill the other day about Canadian imports from writing letter to threaten Japan with Trade sanctions if they don't lift their ban on the US. Remember Japan has lost a citizen to the human form of Mad Cow. It is a clear case of do as the US says not as they do right Sandhusker. Why don't you and the US beef industry tell the Senate to lead by example instead of telling them to threaten Japan into submission."

Hey, I'm in agreement with you that there is a difference between how the US treats Canada and expects to be treated by Japan. I've been very vocal on the USDA's mishandling and outright BSing in regards to Japan. While I don't think the US and Canada should be viewed as equal risks (4 - 0), I think both the US's and Japan's actions show the inherant weaknesses in international trade agreements and alliances and this should tell us all how much we can bank on them.

I don't feel "Leading by example" has any merit at all. It is painfully obvious that countries will do exactly what is in their best interests to do.
Tam, we are taking your boxed beef. How many countries changed their policy based on our actions? Another example; The US has virtually no tariffs on imported beef, yet the average tariff we are going against is 80%. Our "leadership" there has us in a nasty disadvantage. Need I mention Europe? Naw, leadership only works when others are looking for a leader. I think you have to go into the international trade arena with the same attitude you would if you were playing poker in the wrong side of town.

Have a good night, time to hit the proverbial hay.

[~SH~]

Sandhusker: "Hey, I'm in agreement with you that there is a difference between how the US treats Canada and expects to be treated by Japan."

Of course there is! The U.S. expects Japan to take their beef but they are unwilling to take Canadian cattle that are now coming down in boxes. The U.S. tells Japan that our beef is safe yet shows fear for Canadian cattle.

Japan knows we had BSE within our borders, they know we don't have a traceback system, they know we have taken the same precautionary measures as Canada, and they know we have Canadian cattle in our mix.

Why should they take our beef if we are unwilling to take Canadian cattle WHEN WE HAVE CANADIAN CATTLE IN OUR MIX?

They're not going to fall for R-CULT's smoke and mirrors!

You must really think Japan is stupid!



~SH~

[Clarence]

Sh:

Is Japan taking Canadian Beef?

When they do, your arguement will be valid.

[Tommy]

[Bull Burger]

[Tommy]

BB...Why would we want to ship live cattle when we could add the value here?

My point exactly, we will not be selling Japan live cattle, only beef and that from under 20 months. So why would Japan be worried about us taking live cattle from Canada? I do not understand the arguement of those who say Japan will hold us to the same standard we hold Canada. If so they would be taking our beef right now up to 30 months of age.

[Bill]

Why doesn't Japan take beef from the US right now if you don't have BSE?