Weekly USMEF Audio Report: Halstrom Updates Cattle Producers on Beef Exports and Market Access Gains in Japan, China
DENVER, CO – Aug 3, 2020 – At last week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Denver, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom updated cattle producers on the state of U.S. beef exports. He noted that despite a recent dip in export volumes due to interruptions in production, the outlook for the second half of 2020 remains very strong. This is due in part to the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, implemented on Jan. 1, which lowered Japan’s import duties on U.S. beef to match those imposed on major competitors.
Halstrom added that the U.S. beef industry is just beginning to reap the benefits of the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement, as the red meat trade provisions of this agreement were implemented in late March. Through May, U.S. beef exports to China were up 66% from a year ago to just under 5,000 metric tons, with value up 71% to $39 million.
Halstrom Update at Cattle Industry Summer Mtg 8-3-20
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations.
Submitted to the BARN by:
Joe Schuele
Vice President, Communications
U.S. Meat Export Federation
303-547-0030 (mobile)