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Secretary Says USDA Likely To Keep March 7 Date
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns today made a strong commitment to a science-based approach in dealing with trade policy. His comments came during an early morning address to the gathering of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) in San Antonio, TX. It was his first public speech since becoming Secretary two weeks ago.
Most of Johanns' comments were centered on the current controversy over re-opening of the Canadian border to live cattle and expanded beef trade. Johanns said the border rule currently being considered was based on the best BSE-related science available, and is based on the long-term interests of the U.S cattle industry.
Without question, the dominant issue swirling around the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio this week is the pending March 7 border rule so hotly debated since its announcement a month ago. There are several resolutions currently pending in various NCBA committees that address the Canadian border issue. Most call for a continuation of the border closure to live cattle trade until export markets with Japan and Korea in particular are re-opened. The resolutions also call for maintaining the restriction on Canadian beef imports from cattle more than 30 months of age -- a provision of the current proposed rule.
Johanns said these decisions must be very carefully considered, and the U.S. should demonstrate policy with other countries that it would like others to demonstrate with it.
"Making a short-term popular decision is not good for the long-term interest of the cattle industry," Johanns said. "If a country is determined to be 'minimal risk,' then trade should resume. It's the same that we would ask of any other country when dealing with us."
In that vein, Johanns said it's time to work toward setting a timeline for re-opening beef trade with Japan.
He said the technical analysis has been done and the "science" related to BSE and the safety of U.S. beef exports has been communicated to the Japanese.
"Now, we need to set a date, and work toward that date," he said. "Japan is not only our largest beef export market, it's the leader for all of Southeast Asia." He made it clear, however, that the Canada live cattle border re-opening as provided in the rule would proceed -- very likely holding to the March 7 date.
In response to a question raised by NCBA president Jan Lyons, with several thousand NCBA members looking on, Johanns voiced considerable concern over language in the rule that would allow for the importation of beef from cattle more than 30 months of age. Johanns said he's been questioning this portion of the rule since the first day he took office.
"That's a piece of the rule that I have concerns about," he said. "It's something I will deal with in some form or fashion."
NCBA has voiced firm opposition to the "over-30" section of the border rule, and communicated its concerns to the "highest levels" of the Bush administration. Johanns promised the NCBA crowd a "quick response" to all of the concerns raised by Lyons and other NCBA leadership, well in advance of the March 7th date.
Johanns also said he's carefully reviewed a report filed by the NCBA delegation that recently toured the Canadian cattle feeding and beef processing industries. "That has my attention," Johanns said. "I'm looking at it and will have a response back to you very soon."
-- Clint Peck and Troy Marshall
Secretary Says USDA Likely To Keep March 7 Date
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns today made a strong commitment to a science-based approach in dealing with trade policy. His comments came during an early morning address to the gathering of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) in San Antonio, TX. It was his first public speech since becoming Secretary two weeks ago.
Most of Johanns' comments were centered on the current controversy over re-opening of the Canadian border to live cattle and expanded beef trade. Johanns said the border rule currently being considered was based on the best BSE-related science available, and is based on the long-term interests of the U.S cattle industry.
Without question, the dominant issue swirling around the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio this week is the pending March 7 border rule so hotly debated since its announcement a month ago. There are several resolutions currently pending in various NCBA committees that address the Canadian border issue. Most call for a continuation of the border closure to live cattle trade until export markets with Japan and Korea in particular are re-opened. The resolutions also call for maintaining the restriction on Canadian beef imports from cattle more than 30 months of age -- a provision of the current proposed rule.
Johanns said these decisions must be very carefully considered, and the U.S. should demonstrate policy with other countries that it would like others to demonstrate with it.
"Making a short-term popular decision is not good for the long-term interest of the cattle industry," Johanns said. "If a country is determined to be 'minimal risk,' then trade should resume. It's the same that we would ask of any other country when dealing with us."
In that vein, Johanns said it's time to work toward setting a timeline for re-opening beef trade with Japan.
He said the technical analysis has been done and the "science" related to BSE and the safety of U.S. beef exports has been communicated to the Japanese.
"Now, we need to set a date, and work toward that date," he said. "Japan is not only our largest beef export market, it's the leader for all of Southeast Asia." He made it clear, however, that the Canada live cattle border re-opening as provided in the rule would proceed -- very likely holding to the March 7 date.
In response to a question raised by NCBA president Jan Lyons, with several thousand NCBA members looking on, Johanns voiced considerable concern over language in the rule that would allow for the importation of beef from cattle more than 30 months of age. Johanns said he's been questioning this portion of the rule since the first day he took office.
"That's a piece of the rule that I have concerns about," he said. "It's something I will deal with in some form or fashion."
NCBA has voiced firm opposition to the "over-30" section of the border rule, and communicated its concerns to the "highest levels" of the Bush administration. Johanns promised the NCBA crowd a "quick response" to all of the concerns raised by Lyons and other NCBA leadership, well in advance of the March 7th date.
Johanns also said he's carefully reviewed a report filed by the NCBA delegation that recently toured the Canadian cattle feeding and beef processing industries. "That has my attention," Johanns said. "I'm looking at it and will have a response back to you very soon."
-- Clint Peck and Troy Marshall
