USCA Urges New Tariffs on Brazilian Beef Imports

The U.S. Cattlemen's Association is urging the U.S. Trade Representative to impose tougher tariffs on Brazilian beef, arguing imports give Brazil an unfair advantage over American cattle producers.

"Brazil's cattle sector enjoys an unfair advantage that no U.S. rancher can—or would ever want to—compete with," said USCA Director of Policy and Public Affairs Jenna Stanton. "We are simply asking for a market where everyone plays by the same basic rules."

USCA’s testimony urged USTR to:

Apply an additional 25% tariff to all Brazilian bovine products under the relevant Chapter 2 tariff lines,
Reject carve–outs for lean trim or variety meats that would invite relabeling and product shifting, and
Tie any future relaxation of measures to independently-verified sustained improvements in Brazil’s deforestation, labor, traceability, and anti–corruption enforcement.

“This is not a food security or affordability question,” Stanton noted. “Imposing tariffs on Brazilian beef will not empty grocery store shelves. Right now, our members are being asked to compete in a market where one side follows strict environmental, labor, and animal–husbandry rules, and the other side gets a leg up for violating global standards.”

USCA also says illegal deforestation, forced labor, and corruption in Brazil's cattle industry create an uneven playing field for U.S. ranchers and justify stronger trade action.

“Every box of Brazilian beef produced on illegally cleared land or with coerced labor sends a message to U.S. cattle producers that their investments in conservation, humane treatment, and compliance with our laws don’t matter,” said USCA President Justin Tupper. “This Section 301 case is a chance to send a different message—that the United States will not reward deforestation, forced labor, and corruption with premium access to the most valuable beef market in the world. We’re asking USTR to stand with the independent producers who are doing things the right way and adopt strong, comprehensive tariffs on all Brazilian bovine products, with no loopholes big enough to drive a container ship through.”

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