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US BEEF EXPORTS — valued at about $1.8 billion The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P10
continued from page 3 — from January through No- Bacus said that if the safe- prefer the great American beef
vember in 2020. Most of that guard tariff is triggered, those that we produce.”
the National Cattlemen’s Beef trade (238,539 tons worth $1.4 consultations will need to hap- That’s not to say that the
Association. “I hope it’s some- billion) was in muscle cuts, ac- pen. U.S. beef sector does not want
thing that can be avoided, but cording to USMEF. “These are conversations a bigger quota for U.S. beef.
we are pretty close to hitting But even if Japan’s safe- that we’ll need to have so our The Japanese quota for mem-
that (trigger).” guard tariff is triggered, there governments can figure out bers of the Comprehensive
If the trigger is hit in Febru- may be a way to stop Japan the best path forward,” he said. and Progressive Agreement
ary, the tariff on U.S. beef will from implementing it. “This is something we need to for Trans-Pacific Partnership
increase for 45 days. If that U.S. negotiators convinced pursue because it’s overwhelm- (CPTPP), which includes Aus-
happens in March, the tariff Japan to scrap its quarterly ingly clear that Japanese con- tralia, is bigger at 613,600 tons
will increase for 30 days. safeguard trigger in the free sumers want more U.S. beef.” for the Japanese fiscal year.
Either way, it will have a trade agreement that went into It is unclear how long it The U.S. quota is set to begin
negative impact on U.S. beef effect about a year ago. It was would take to set up those con- growing by 4,860 tons per year,
exports, says Bacus. replaced with a yearly mecha- sultations between the U.S. beginning in the 2023 Japa-
“It’ll be a temporary setback nism believed to be much less and Japan, and what the result nese fiscal year for the follow-
for us,” he told Agri-Pulse. “Ob- of a threat to disrupting trade, would be. ing six years.
viously, when you raise the but that may still happen un- Regardless, the safeguard Nevertheless, expanding
price on a hot commodity like less the two sides agree to re- tariff would only be temporary the quota for U.S. beef is some-
beef in such a prolific market negotiate — an option made and won’t stop U.S. beef, says thing both countries are “going
like Japan, that could have possible by a provision tucked Bacus. to have to revisit,” Bacus said.
some temporary restrictions on into a side letter of the U.S.-Ja- “I think the important But the Japanese govern-
our sales.” pan Trade Agreement. thing to keep in mind is that ment has become increasing-
U.S. Meat Export Federa- Japan, according to the Of- the safeguard — if it is trig- ly concerned about too much
tion economist Erin Borror fice of the U.S. Trade Represen- gered — would be temporary,” imported beef hitting the Jap-
said she is also concerned. tative, agreed “to consult to ad- he stressed. “But it’s also just anese market, according to a
“Because the United States just the applicable safeguard another signal of how strong new analysis by USDA’s For-
is the only beef supplier ap- trigger level to a higher level our sales are in Japan and how eign Agricultural Service.
proaching its safeguard thresh- if the safeguard is ever trig- much the Japanese consumers Japan’s Agriculture and
old, USMEF is concerned that gered.” Livestock Industries Corpo-
chilled exports to Japan could ration, a state trading enter-
decline if and when the snap- prise, began offering on Jan. 1
back tariff rate is in place,” she to pay importers to freeze the
said. “This may include the more expensive chilled cuts of
weeks leading up to the ‘Gold- beef they bring into the coun-
en Week’ holidays, a key time try. The government organi-
period for Japanese buyers.” zation is willing to spend the
Japan is the largest foreign
market for U.S. beef, and U.S. equivalent of $14.2 million to
pay importers “to fill the price
exports, despite the logistical gap between chilled and frozen
and demand problems caused products given the deteriora-
by the COVID-19 pandemic, tion in quality due to freezing”
have been on track or better in in order to “stabilize beef de-
2020 than they were in 2019, mand and supply in Japan due
according to data and analysis to potential demand declines
from the USMEF. as a result of COVID-19.”
The U.S. exported 280,954
metric tons of beef to Japan U.S. beef exports to Japan have been very good in recent months — maybe too good. Agri-Pulse.com

ANOTHER NAMIBIAN is designated as safe for export. NCBA ROLLS OUT clude a Washington, D.C. issues
continued from page 3 Namibia has extensive mea- continued from page 3 update and expectations with
sures in place, including a cor- the new administration. Ten
lems plaguing cattle produc- don fence and a buffer zone to Winter Reboot attendees will educational programs will be
tion in other parts of the world prevent the spread of FMD from receive a sneak peek into plans offered, covering topics such as
do not reach our shores. While the northern zone to the south- for the Cattle Industry Conven- sustainability, as well as a tech
NCBA supports regionalization ern zone. NCBA supports re- tion and the Cattlemen’s Col- tool introduction.
as a tool to protect against the search to develop protocols and lege. A virtual marketplace also
spread of disease while facilitat- determine the economic impact “Despite the move of the main will be featured during the Win-
ing science-based trade, NCBA of regionalization of states or an event in August, we’re excited to ter Reboot to allow attendees in-
encourages USDA to remain area to establish risk avoidance host this event allowing cattle- teraction with leading agribusi-
vigilant in ensuring all preven- for animal diseases. With that men and women to engage in in- nesses.
tative measures are in place to said, FMD is a highly contagious dustry-leading content in a way To register and for more infor-
protect the U.S. cattle industry disease that would devastate the that is accessible for everyone,” mation, visit convention.ncba.
from exposure.” U.S. cattle industry and NCBA said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. org/winter-reboot.
“In regard to FMD, Namibia will continue to support USDA’s “NCBA continues to focus on
is divided into two zones. The efforts to prevent our herd from meeting the needs of our mem- AgriNews
northern zone, where FMD con- exposure.” bers and the industry. This vir-
tinues to occur and is not ap- tual experience will provide vital
proved for export to the United NCBA industry updates and education
States, and the southern zone— as we start the new year.”
an area that is free of FMD and Winter Reboot sessions in-