Cattlemen urge Congress to OK Colombian trade
(MEATPOULTRY.com, April 08, 2008)
by Bryan Salvage
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WASHINGTON ― The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association supports swift passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, as urged earlier this week in President Bush’s correspondence with Congress.
This trade agreement has significant economic, political and national security implications for the United States and for all nations in the Andean region, N.C.B.A. said in a press release. But cattle producers are also anxious to correct the serious inequities that exist between U.S. exports to the region and goods that the U.S. imports from Colombia.
While 90% of Colombian products currently shipped to the United States are free from tariffs, most U.S. exports face significant tariffs and other restrictions when entering Colombia due in part to the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act, which Congress recently extended by an overwhelming margin.
"The United States has taken these steps to help lift the economy of some key Latin American allies, and we understand the need for that," said Andy Groseta, N.C.B.A. president and a rancher from Cottonwood, Ariz. "But America’s farmers and ranchers find it very hard to compete in a global economy when imports enter the United States duty-free, while our outbound products face significant tariffs and trade barriers."
In 2006, Colombia agreed to open its market to all U.S. beef and beef products. However, the U.S.-Colombia T.P.A. is still needed in order to make U.S. beef available and affordable to residents of this region. Presently, U.S. beef faces an 80% tariff upon entry into Colombia.
(MEATPOULTRY.com, April 08, 2008)
by Bryan Salvage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON ― The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association supports swift passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, as urged earlier this week in President Bush’s correspondence with Congress.
This trade agreement has significant economic, political and national security implications for the United States and for all nations in the Andean region, N.C.B.A. said in a press release. But cattle producers are also anxious to correct the serious inequities that exist between U.S. exports to the region and goods that the U.S. imports from Colombia.
While 90% of Colombian products currently shipped to the United States are free from tariffs, most U.S. exports face significant tariffs and other restrictions when entering Colombia due in part to the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act, which Congress recently extended by an overwhelming margin.
"The United States has taken these steps to help lift the economy of some key Latin American allies, and we understand the need for that," said Andy Groseta, N.C.B.A. president and a rancher from Cottonwood, Ariz. "But America’s farmers and ranchers find it very hard to compete in a global economy when imports enter the United States duty-free, while our outbound products face significant tariffs and trade barriers."
In 2006, Colombia agreed to open its market to all U.S. beef and beef products. However, the U.S.-Colombia T.P.A. is still needed in order to make U.S. beef available and affordable to residents of this region. Presently, U.S. beef faces an 80% tariff upon entry into Colombia.