Pressure Builds to Stop Argentine Meat Imports

Contact: Jess Peterson 202/870-3867
Email: usca@uscattlemen.org

A portion of the letter reads: "We are writing to express our concern regarding USDA’s proposed rule to declare the southern Patagonia region of Argentina free of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Rinderpest, and to allow meat imports from this region. FMD is highly contagious, and an outbreak of this disease in the United States would be economically devastating for U.S. cattle and sheep producers. Any decision to allow regional access to U.S. markets in countries with a history of FMD must be carefully scrutinized.

We urge you not to issue the final rule for southern Patagonia until the rule has been reviewed by OMB. While OMB may view this particular rule as non-significant, it serves as a precedent for future rules that would regionalize FMD status, and deserves thorough examination. Further, we request that the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provide a clear list of criteria and measures that all countries must meet in order for APHIS to determine that a particular region can be deemed free of FMD.

Beef producers in our states and throughout the country are struggling, due in no small part to the continuing bans on U.S. beef products in Korea, Japan and other countries. USDA’s top priority should be opening these markets to U.S. exports and alleviating the market pressures on U.S. farmers and ranchers."

This letter reiterates a similar message delivered by U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Pete Domenici (R-NM) in a March 3rd letter to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.

"Cattle producers are proud of these Senators for doing what’s right for the U.S. cattle industry," said USCA Trade Committee Chairman Doug Zalesky. "These leaders understand the dangers of importing from a country known to have FMD, and the negative impact this disease would have on the U.S. cattle industry. This issue boils down to trust. Argentina has not done anything to gain our trust. This is a country that costs taxpayers and U.S. businesses billions by turning its back on repaying loans and this is a nation that sides against rural America in the WTO. Why would USDA reward them by allowing them to be the first country to increase meat imports despite its FMD problem? Now is the time for USDA to withdraw this problematic rule."

Established in March 2007, USCA is committed to assembling a team to concentrate efforts in Washington D.C. to enhance and expand the cattle industry's voice on Capitol Hill. For membership forms and other information visit www.uscattlemen.org.