Trade, China Take Center Stage At Cattle Meeting

Tariffs and other trade issues were top of mind for cattle producers and other beef industry leaders during last week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, CA.  U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom, said despite an uncertain trade environment, producers remain upbeat about robust global demand for U.S. beef.

"But not only global, but U.S. demand as well. We had the opportunity to present to the International Marketing Committee here, and this is one of the main points that we continue to strive and relay to them, that the demand around the world is growing," Halstrom said.  "But it's not just the established markets. It's emerging markets like the Central American region, for example.”

Producers Learn The Ins And Outs Of China

Erin Borror, USMEF, vice president for economic analysis, discussed the current trade impasse with China and other key policy issues during last week's meeting.

“It was a great opportunity for us to be able to spend a little more time with the producers, to help them understand the complicated nature of the China market and what we've been through since February, essentially, and the evolving access situation," she said.  "And most importantly, to explain the value of that China market for the entire beef industry and explaining how U.S. beef was the big winner in the Phase One Agreement with China.”

Borror continued that China adds additional value to every animal produced in the United States, when the market is open to American producers.  She said it’s not only because China is buying $2 billion worth of U.S. beef, but they're competing for every Asia produced off that animal; thus supporting prices.

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