U.S. Cattlemen to Provide Vigorous Defense for COOL at WTO
Members gather in Las Vegas on December 5 for Annual Meeting...

USCA (December 9, 2008) - Cattle producers from nine states gathered at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV on December 5 for the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association’s (USCA) annual membership meeting. The event was held in conjunction with the PRCA National Finals Rodeo.

Attendees received an in-depth Capitol Hill update from Jess Peterson, USCA Executive Vice-President. Peterson’s presentation included a review of ongoing issues like country of origin labeling, Argentina’s push for beef and cattle import expansion, beef checkoff reform, marketplace competition, international trade agreements and animal health issues. Peterson also provided an overview of the new administration and the issues that will come before the 111th session of Congress.

"Tremendous policy opportunities lie ahead for U.S. cattle producers," noted Peterson. "A friendly Congress and a new administration mean we must be engaged in the policy process at every level. USCA has remarkable respect and access on Capitol Hill. As President-Elect Obama puts his Cabinet in place and new agency heads are appointed, USCA will be on the cutting edge of policy discussions."

USCA members in Las Vegas also heard from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials on the Canadian filings before the World Trade Organization on country of origin labeling.

"Information shows that the Canadian government has filed documents with the WTO requesting consultations with the United States over country of origin labeling," noted Peterson. "The time period to complete the consultations under the WTO is short. A response from the U.S. to the Canadian complaint is due by mid-December and we expect the consultations to commence shortly thereafter.. USCA members made clear their intent to provide a vigorous defense of the labeling law throughout the process. We are exploring the options available to us and producers can rest assured that USCA will be taking the lead on this issue."
USCA was founded on a one-member, one vote policy with a provision that allows all members to vote on policy resolutions by mail-in ballot.

Members at the annual meeting affirmed several policy resolutions passed by the USCA board of directors earlier this year, including a resolution on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Doug Zalesky, USCA Region IV Director and Trade Committee Chairman presented a resolution opposing the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. "This trade agreement fails to provide phytosanitary safeguards to protect the U.S. cattle herd, and it also fails to contain rules for perishable and cyclical agriculture products," explained Zalesky. "There is no snap back provision that would curtail imports of cattle and beef if or when U.S. feeder cattle drop below the cost of production, and it fails to prohibit the transshipment of cattle. From cattle producers’ perspective, this is a very poor trade agreement that fails every litmus test."

The resolution opposing the Colombia Free Trade Agreement passed unanimously and will now be sent as a ballot issue to USCA members.

A resolution calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately reject the pending regionalized beef trade plan with Argentina also passed unanimously.

"There is no question that the economic consequences of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the U.S. would be catastrophic," stated Zalesky. "Argentina has a documented problem with foot and mouth disease. The infectious animal disease risks associated with expanding beef and cattle trade with Argentina under USDA’s regionalized plan are unacceptable to U.S. producers. Foot and mouth disease is highly infectious, particularly through airborne vectors. An outbreak in the U.S. would bring livestock commerce to an immediate halt and would more than likely result in the depopulation of thousands of head of livestock. If USDA fails to withdraw this flawed proposal, then USCA will call on Congress to block the rule."

Argentina has defaulted on millions of dollars in loans made by U.S. companies, which is, in effect, an indirect subsidy for Argentine cattle producers. Argentina has opposed U.S. producers in international trade issues under the WTO.

Established in March 2007, USCA is committed to concentrating its efforts in Washington, DC to enhance and expand the cattle industry’s voice on Capitol Hill. USCA has a full-time presence in Washington, giving cattle producers across the country a strong influence on policy development. For more information go to www.uscattlemen.org.