Our Perspective
A Look At How NCBA Border Directive Might Fare
The directive that sailed through the cattle industry convention last week and will be sent to the entire National Cattlemens' Beef Association membership on Feb. 17 set forth a laundry list of concerns NCBA wants addressed before it can support a border reopening. The directive's 11 key points include:
Prohibit the importation of cattle and beef products from cattle more than 30 months of age.
Assure all Canadian firewalls to prevent BSE, specifically adherence to their feed ban, are functioning properly.
No feeder cattle imported animal health standards, especially bluetongue and anaplasmosis, are harmonized.
Movement of Canadian cattle into the U.S. must be managed to minimize market disruptions.
Fed cattle imported for immediate slaughter must be certified to be less than 30 months of age at time of importation.
Ban the use of fetal bovine serum from heifers imported for immediate slaughter.
Disallow USDA grades and stamps on any imported beef.
Feeder cattle must be branded with "CAN," individually ID'd with an ear tag, certified to be less than 30 months of age at time of slaughter, shipped in sealed trucks from the border directly to an approved feedlot, then moved directly in sealed trucks to slaughter.
Canadian feeder heifers imported to the U.S. must be spayed.
USDA must work with primary trade partners to ensure expanded access for U.S. beef exports isn't jeopardized in any way by expanded importation of Canadian cattle and beef.
The administration must reach an agreement to re-establish beef and beef byproduct trade with Japan, South Korea and Mexico, and apply economic sanctions if necessary.
USDA has already taken action on Point 1. Point 2 was partially addressed by NCBA's trade delegation, and additional investigations are ongoing with reports expected prior to March 7.
Point 3 isn't only obvious, but doable with little difficulty. The reality is Canada has far more at stake than the U.S., and this non-tariff trade barrier issue has existed for nearly 20 years. It must be resolved and aligned with the science immediately, as the U.S. will never have this much leverage again.
Point 4 is merely a restatement of past NCBA policy but it points out just how complicated implementing this ruling will be and the possible need for more time. It's also an issue difficult to define and adhere to without trade first being established. Nothing in the current rule addresses mitigating negative short-term market effects.
Point 5 is essentially already part of the USDA rule and isn't expected to be a major stumbling block. Point 6 is another difficult-to-resolve issue, while Point 7 is merely a restatement of current NCBA policy that USDA will likely continue to ignore. Point 8 is essentially a part of the current rule.
Point 9 is a major departure from the current rule and would be easy to implement. But, it's not likely to happen as the provisions and tracking of these heifer feeders are considered to be adequate. While inherently obvious, Point 10 isn't expected to carry much weight.
Point 11, however, is critical and the most controversial. USDA seems adamantly opposed to it, feeling the border reopening will lead to reopening of U.S. export markets. This will likely be the most difficult objective to achieve.
-- Troy Marshall
A Look At How NCBA Border Directive Might Fare
The directive that sailed through the cattle industry convention last week and will be sent to the entire National Cattlemens' Beef Association membership on Feb. 17 set forth a laundry list of concerns NCBA wants addressed before it can support a border reopening. The directive's 11 key points include:
Prohibit the importation of cattle and beef products from cattle more than 30 months of age.
Assure all Canadian firewalls to prevent BSE, specifically adherence to their feed ban, are functioning properly.
No feeder cattle imported animal health standards, especially bluetongue and anaplasmosis, are harmonized.
Movement of Canadian cattle into the U.S. must be managed to minimize market disruptions.
Fed cattle imported for immediate slaughter must be certified to be less than 30 months of age at time of importation.
Ban the use of fetal bovine serum from heifers imported for immediate slaughter.
Disallow USDA grades and stamps on any imported beef.
Feeder cattle must be branded with "CAN," individually ID'd with an ear tag, certified to be less than 30 months of age at time of slaughter, shipped in sealed trucks from the border directly to an approved feedlot, then moved directly in sealed trucks to slaughter.
Canadian feeder heifers imported to the U.S. must be spayed.
USDA must work with primary trade partners to ensure expanded access for U.S. beef exports isn't jeopardized in any way by expanded importation of Canadian cattle and beef.
The administration must reach an agreement to re-establish beef and beef byproduct trade with Japan, South Korea and Mexico, and apply economic sanctions if necessary.
USDA has already taken action on Point 1. Point 2 was partially addressed by NCBA's trade delegation, and additional investigations are ongoing with reports expected prior to March 7.
Point 3 isn't only obvious, but doable with little difficulty. The reality is Canada has far more at stake than the U.S., and this non-tariff trade barrier issue has existed for nearly 20 years. It must be resolved and aligned with the science immediately, as the U.S. will never have this much leverage again.
Point 4 is merely a restatement of past NCBA policy but it points out just how complicated implementing this ruling will be and the possible need for more time. It's also an issue difficult to define and adhere to without trade first being established. Nothing in the current rule addresses mitigating negative short-term market effects.
Point 5 is essentially already part of the USDA rule and isn't expected to be a major stumbling block. Point 6 is another difficult-to-resolve issue, while Point 7 is merely a restatement of current NCBA policy that USDA will likely continue to ignore. Point 8 is essentially a part of the current rule.
Point 9 is a major departure from the current rule and would be easy to implement. But, it's not likely to happen as the provisions and tracking of these heifer feeders are considered to be adequate. While inherently obvious, Point 10 isn't expected to carry much weight.
Point 11, however, is critical and the most controversial. USDA seems adamantly opposed to it, feeling the border reopening will lead to reopening of U.S. export markets. This will likely be the most difficult objective to achieve.
-- Troy Marshall
