Some points made by Terry Stokes recently may interest some people. At any rate, here are some FACTS about NCBA positions as excerpts from a TX Farm Bureau site, and I paraphrase with quotation marks to indicate Stokes' direct words. The opinion piece is in the current edition of the TX FB website. The Policy/Dues/Membership division, NOT the Federation of State Beef Councils, is the one referenced by the NCBA title used in this post. Obviously, there is NO involvement of Beef Checkoff funds here.
Considering yourself eating out and enjoying some top quality US beef in some foreign countries whether you are a citizen of either country. You will receive the bill, including tax and a tip. But......there is an additional tax of 30 to 50%......the tariff!
High tariffs are very hard to overturn. Isolationists see it as protecting domestic industry. Governments love the income non-citizens pay so their citizens don't complain about it. But those tariffs also cost native consumers excessively for products they want and "cheats US producers out of an opportunity to compete on a fair and level playing field", according to Stokes.
With the average global tariff on beef and beef products currently at 85% according to Greg Doud, working to reduce or eliminate those tariffs is a top priority for NCBA members, and a reason we supported CAFTA. We realize reducing tariffs is an uphill battle, but it is necessary if we are to grow overseas markets to their full potential.
Animal health issues can also be used to stop international beef trade. Stokes recently was involved in meetings in Ottawa seeking to eliminate restrictions related to anaplasmosis and bluetongue that have limited the ability of US cattlemen to sell feeder and breeding cattle into Canada. "I am pleased with the progress made and support of Canadian cattlemen in getting the Canadian government to resolve this issue", said Stokes.
"NCBA has made it clear, however, that we cannot support expansion of trade with Canada unless these issues are resolved. We value Canada as a trading partner and these issues have been a hindrance to US producers for too long", Stokes added.
NCBA continues work for improved access to the EU markets. Their insistence on "hormone free" beef is thinly veiled as a consumer health measure when in reality it is a protectionist policy to keep our superior product off the dinner plates of overseas customers.
NCBA is working with the Bush Administration, USDA, the US Trade Rep., and Congressmen to restore and gain access to markets closed due to BSE. Currently, US beef has regained access to a large percentage of those markets lost due to BSE, however, unfair tariffs and other restrictions limit the potential of those markets, so the work toward fairness must continue.
"This is why NCBA is committed to free and fair trade, and works tirelessly for global policies that create a fair opportunity for American cattlemen to export the safest and best-tasting beef in the world. Our members expect--and deserve--nothing less", said Stokes.
/BTW, I'm solely responsible for any errors made in paraphrasing Terry Stokes' comments.
MRJ
Considering yourself eating out and enjoying some top quality US beef in some foreign countries whether you are a citizen of either country. You will receive the bill, including tax and a tip. But......there is an additional tax of 30 to 50%......the tariff!
High tariffs are very hard to overturn. Isolationists see it as protecting domestic industry. Governments love the income non-citizens pay so their citizens don't complain about it. But those tariffs also cost native consumers excessively for products they want and "cheats US producers out of an opportunity to compete on a fair and level playing field", according to Stokes.
With the average global tariff on beef and beef products currently at 85% according to Greg Doud, working to reduce or eliminate those tariffs is a top priority for NCBA members, and a reason we supported CAFTA. We realize reducing tariffs is an uphill battle, but it is necessary if we are to grow overseas markets to their full potential.
Animal health issues can also be used to stop international beef trade. Stokes recently was involved in meetings in Ottawa seeking to eliminate restrictions related to anaplasmosis and bluetongue that have limited the ability of US cattlemen to sell feeder and breeding cattle into Canada. "I am pleased with the progress made and support of Canadian cattlemen in getting the Canadian government to resolve this issue", said Stokes.
"NCBA has made it clear, however, that we cannot support expansion of trade with Canada unless these issues are resolved. We value Canada as a trading partner and these issues have been a hindrance to US producers for too long", Stokes added.
NCBA continues work for improved access to the EU markets. Their insistence on "hormone free" beef is thinly veiled as a consumer health measure when in reality it is a protectionist policy to keep our superior product off the dinner plates of overseas customers.
NCBA is working with the Bush Administration, USDA, the US Trade Rep., and Congressmen to restore and gain access to markets closed due to BSE. Currently, US beef has regained access to a large percentage of those markets lost due to BSE, however, unfair tariffs and other restrictions limit the potential of those markets, so the work toward fairness must continue.
"This is why NCBA is committed to free and fair trade, and works tirelessly for global policies that create a fair opportunity for American cattlemen to export the safest and best-tasting beef in the world. Our members expect--and deserve--nothing less", said Stokes.
/BTW, I'm solely responsible for any errors made in paraphrasing Terry Stokes' comments.
MRJ
