Subject: Transcript of Questions and Answers: Acting Agriculture Secretary
Chuck Conner with Media After U.S. Meat Export Federation Remarks
Date: November 1, 2007 at 1:07 pm PST
TRANSCRIPT
Release No. 0317.07
Contact:
Office of Communications (202)720-4623
Transcript of Questions and Answers: Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck
Conner with Media After U.S. Meat Export Federation Remarks
Washington D.C., October 29, 2007
Q: -- partners in Korea? Is that what you said?
SEC. CONNER: Well, as you guys know we had a trade delegation that's spent
the better part of a couple of weeks traveling to five different countries I
believe in Asia. We had heard some concern that perhaps, there was concern
that we were focused on Japan and Korea and not pushing others. And we
wanted to send a strong message that we expect all of our international
trading partners to trade in beef and all our beef products according to
international OIE standards. So this was an important mission, not only to
continue our efforts with Japan and Korea, but at the same time to reach out
to those other countries who, as well, are expected to trade according to
those standards.
A delegation was over there for a couple of weeks. They are back I believe
as of yesterday. In fact they have returned, so I've not had the opportunity
to sit down and be fully briefed, but some of what they report is that there
has been some progress made in those countries, that there's been expression
of some interest in moving towards international standards. We're going to
follow up obviously on these things because again we do expect all of Asia
and all of our international trading partners to trade according to these
standards, and we're not in any way changing that, and just believe that's
the only way you're going to have reasonable trade in beef around the globe
is according to those standards.
REPORTER: Which, countries showed interest?
REPORTER: -- over the weekend it was revealed that the Topps beef was
sourced out of Canada. Can you explain what that will mean in terms of
import food safety working group recommendations and any new recommendations
coming out of USDA plus the trade implications?
SEC. CONNER: Well, let me just say, Sally, the comment I'll have on that is
obviously we worked very, very closely with CFIA from the beginning. We've
had such a great working relationship throughout all our beef issues with
Canada, with the Canadian government, the CFIA in particular. You know, they
had been more than cooperative with us in terms of tracking down this
material and sourcing this plant that has been identified. I'm confident
that working with Canada we're going to continue to work through these
issues and get this resolved at this point. So that's all I'll say.
REPORTER: -- international trade expand, (unclear) safety of U.S. beef, or I
should say the safety of beef consumed by Americans?
SEC. CONNER: Well, Chuck, you've heard me say on numerous occasions I
believe our food supply is safe, our beef supply is safe. We've had this
circumstance for this one particular case that has led to a sizeable recall.
I think we've openly identified with you issues that came about as a result
of that particular recall that we have put in place several changes that we
felt strengthened our own system that we have in place. And those changes
will enable us to move much more quickly on a recall than perhaps what our
guidelines would have allowed us to do in the past.
We're going to continue to look and analyze this situation, again to make
sure we have the absolute best system in place for protection of our
consumers. Most of that you've seen already in terms of the announcements
that came out of FSIS shortly after the major recall was issued for the
product coming out of New Jersey.
REPORTER: Sir, (unclear) Prime Minister (unclear) be in town meeting with
President (unclear). What is your expectation with regards to the beef
issue?
SEC. CONNER: Well, again, the president on numerous occasions has stated to
our trading partners and to the Japanese and Koreans in particular that he
expects our beef producers in the United States to be able to trade beef
internationally according to OIE standards. International, science-based
standards. And the President has been personally involved in making this
case. We appreciate his personal involvement in making that case, and I am
certain that this is going to be underscored again with the Japanese that we
expect, as they have indicated before, that they are willing to move forward
to trade according to those international standards, international standards
that will ensure that Japanese consumers not only have access to beef but
have access to a very, very safe beef supply. And again I would expect the
President to underscore that.
REPORTER: When you started did you expect it would be almost November and
we'd still be dealing with opening markets with Japan?
SEC. CONNER: Well, I won't comment on that directly, but obviously it
reflects the frustration that we've got at this point. It's been too long,
Alan. I'll just say that. It's been simply too long. We are frustrated. We
are going to continue to press this point, press again for full OIE
compliance. And we appreciate the work of our trade experts the last couple
of weeks to make this case on many, many points around the globe. And as I
have indicated, we will be reporting perhaps some progress, but a lot more
needs to be done. We're frustrated. It's time to get this issue behind us.
REPORTER: Despite OIE guidelines, international guidelines, have you
gotten – is Japan still set in only wanting to accept beef of under
30-month-age cattle, not accept culled cattle?
SEC. CONNER: Well, the Japanese can state their own position. Our position
with the Japanese is, they have agreed to live by international standards.
And international standards are not 30 month and younger animals.
International standards in Japan would allow us to trade all products from
all age cattle into that country. And that's what we expect Japan to do
because that's what they have agreed to do by being a part of this
international body.
REPORTER: Mr. Secretary, on the Peru Free Trade Agreement you'd expressed
some hope about this month. Have any congressional leaders indicated when
they might be moving on that?
SEC. CONNER: I'm not aware of what they are saying in terms of the timing of
that. Again, obviously they come out of both committees with strong votes,
strong bipartisan votes I might add, and so we'd expect them to move forward
on this very quickly. We are going to continue to press for rapid adoption
of that particular agreement as well as the other three going forward.
REPORTER: On beef again, had you talked to the Asian countries about going
to the SPS Committee in Geneva about, with the complaint or at least the
discussion within the committee?
SEC. CONNER: I have not had any discussions in that regard. Again, we're
going to continue to make the case for these international standards, and we
just expect those countries who have agreed to live by these standards,
expect others in terms of trading of their products, to live by
international standards, to say simply, "We're a part of this body, we're a
part of the international body; this is what we have agreed to trade by,
this is how we expect others to treat us. Therefore, this is how we're going
to treat U.S. beef."
We're frustrated. You know, we're going to continue to press that point. And
next steps, we'll have to see, but we're going to continue to press that
point as again we have in the last two weeks with this high level delegation
that has been to the five different Asian countries.
REPORTER: Different topic.
snip...
REPORTER: So may I go back to the beef issue? So that you mentioned that, so
that some of the nations are interested in moving into the OIE standards.
I'm just wondering, which countries show that?
SEC. CONNER: Well, in terms of this trip I'll be having more to say about
that at a later point. I'll just again report as I said in my remarks in
here that we feel like we have made some progress towards moving toward OIE
standards in certain situations.
REPORTER: -- with Japan?
SEC. CONNER: I'm not going to say anything more. You guys heard my remarks.
REPORTER: What are the next steps now that the Asian trip is over?
SEC. CONNER: Well, obviously we need to get a full briefing from the group
that just returned over the weekend, both Sue Schwab and I. I will be
meeting with her in the middle part of this week, Wednesday I believe Sue
and I are scheduled to have a meeting. We'll plot out our next steps based
upon that briefing. Obviously we're going to continue to reach out to all of
our counterparts in these countries, continue to press them with just the
strongest possible message that we can: "Simply do what you said you were
going to do. This is not a tough situation. You are a part of the
international body, you've been a part of these negotiations, you've
indicated what you're going to do. Fulfill that obligation, open up your
markets according to the science-based standards of the OIE."
Again, it's not difficult. It's something that for the sake of international
trade, for the sake of all exports moving around the country, around the
globe freely, they should be willing to do because these are countries that
are champions of trade, champions of trade according to international
standards. Now they just need to do it for this particular product.
http://www.usda.gov/
OH my, where do i start. let's start with the OIE this, OIE that, BSe, and
what this OIE gold stamp actually means ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate
declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries.
The OIE is not
responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on
inaccurate information or
changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not
promptly
reported to then Central Bureau............
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
WHAT this OIE gold stamp actually means, you can get this stamp of approval
simply by what ever data you submit,
no matter how false it may be, simple as that, and we know just how honest
this administration has been in the past.
it was about nothing more than trade, commodities and futures.
please see full text here ;
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/
TSS
Chuck Conner with Media After U.S. Meat Export Federation Remarks
Date: November 1, 2007 at 1:07 pm PST
TRANSCRIPT
Release No. 0317.07
Contact:
Office of Communications (202)720-4623
Transcript of Questions and Answers: Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck
Conner with Media After U.S. Meat Export Federation Remarks
Washington D.C., October 29, 2007
Q: -- partners in Korea? Is that what you said?
SEC. CONNER: Well, as you guys know we had a trade delegation that's spent
the better part of a couple of weeks traveling to five different countries I
believe in Asia. We had heard some concern that perhaps, there was concern
that we were focused on Japan and Korea and not pushing others. And we
wanted to send a strong message that we expect all of our international
trading partners to trade in beef and all our beef products according to
international OIE standards. So this was an important mission, not only to
continue our efforts with Japan and Korea, but at the same time to reach out
to those other countries who, as well, are expected to trade according to
those standards.
A delegation was over there for a couple of weeks. They are back I believe
as of yesterday. In fact they have returned, so I've not had the opportunity
to sit down and be fully briefed, but some of what they report is that there
has been some progress made in those countries, that there's been expression
of some interest in moving towards international standards. We're going to
follow up obviously on these things because again we do expect all of Asia
and all of our international trading partners to trade according to these
standards, and we're not in any way changing that, and just believe that's
the only way you're going to have reasonable trade in beef around the globe
is according to those standards.
REPORTER: Which, countries showed interest?
REPORTER: -- over the weekend it was revealed that the Topps beef was
sourced out of Canada. Can you explain what that will mean in terms of
import food safety working group recommendations and any new recommendations
coming out of USDA plus the trade implications?
SEC. CONNER: Well, let me just say, Sally, the comment I'll have on that is
obviously we worked very, very closely with CFIA from the beginning. We've
had such a great working relationship throughout all our beef issues with
Canada, with the Canadian government, the CFIA in particular. You know, they
had been more than cooperative with us in terms of tracking down this
material and sourcing this plant that has been identified. I'm confident
that working with Canada we're going to continue to work through these
issues and get this resolved at this point. So that's all I'll say.
REPORTER: -- international trade expand, (unclear) safety of U.S. beef, or I
should say the safety of beef consumed by Americans?
SEC. CONNER: Well, Chuck, you've heard me say on numerous occasions I
believe our food supply is safe, our beef supply is safe. We've had this
circumstance for this one particular case that has led to a sizeable recall.
I think we've openly identified with you issues that came about as a result
of that particular recall that we have put in place several changes that we
felt strengthened our own system that we have in place. And those changes
will enable us to move much more quickly on a recall than perhaps what our
guidelines would have allowed us to do in the past.
We're going to continue to look and analyze this situation, again to make
sure we have the absolute best system in place for protection of our
consumers. Most of that you've seen already in terms of the announcements
that came out of FSIS shortly after the major recall was issued for the
product coming out of New Jersey.
REPORTER: Sir, (unclear) Prime Minister (unclear) be in town meeting with
President (unclear). What is your expectation with regards to the beef
issue?
SEC. CONNER: Well, again, the president on numerous occasions has stated to
our trading partners and to the Japanese and Koreans in particular that he
expects our beef producers in the United States to be able to trade beef
internationally according to OIE standards. International, science-based
standards. And the President has been personally involved in making this
case. We appreciate his personal involvement in making that case, and I am
certain that this is going to be underscored again with the Japanese that we
expect, as they have indicated before, that they are willing to move forward
to trade according to those international standards, international standards
that will ensure that Japanese consumers not only have access to beef but
have access to a very, very safe beef supply. And again I would expect the
President to underscore that.
REPORTER: When you started did you expect it would be almost November and
we'd still be dealing with opening markets with Japan?
SEC. CONNER: Well, I won't comment on that directly, but obviously it
reflects the frustration that we've got at this point. It's been too long,
Alan. I'll just say that. It's been simply too long. We are frustrated. We
are going to continue to press this point, press again for full OIE
compliance. And we appreciate the work of our trade experts the last couple
of weeks to make this case on many, many points around the globe. And as I
have indicated, we will be reporting perhaps some progress, but a lot more
needs to be done. We're frustrated. It's time to get this issue behind us.
REPORTER: Despite OIE guidelines, international guidelines, have you
gotten – is Japan still set in only wanting to accept beef of under
30-month-age cattle, not accept culled cattle?
SEC. CONNER: Well, the Japanese can state their own position. Our position
with the Japanese is, they have agreed to live by international standards.
And international standards are not 30 month and younger animals.
International standards in Japan would allow us to trade all products from
all age cattle into that country. And that's what we expect Japan to do
because that's what they have agreed to do by being a part of this
international body.
REPORTER: Mr. Secretary, on the Peru Free Trade Agreement you'd expressed
some hope about this month. Have any congressional leaders indicated when
they might be moving on that?
SEC. CONNER: I'm not aware of what they are saying in terms of the timing of
that. Again, obviously they come out of both committees with strong votes,
strong bipartisan votes I might add, and so we'd expect them to move forward
on this very quickly. We are going to continue to press for rapid adoption
of that particular agreement as well as the other three going forward.
REPORTER: On beef again, had you talked to the Asian countries about going
to the SPS Committee in Geneva about, with the complaint or at least the
discussion within the committee?
SEC. CONNER: I have not had any discussions in that regard. Again, we're
going to continue to make the case for these international standards, and we
just expect those countries who have agreed to live by these standards,
expect others in terms of trading of their products, to live by
international standards, to say simply, "We're a part of this body, we're a
part of the international body; this is what we have agreed to trade by,
this is how we expect others to treat us. Therefore, this is how we're going
to treat U.S. beef."
We're frustrated. You know, we're going to continue to press that point. And
next steps, we'll have to see, but we're going to continue to press that
point as again we have in the last two weeks with this high level delegation
that has been to the five different Asian countries.
REPORTER: Different topic.
snip...
REPORTER: So may I go back to the beef issue? So that you mentioned that, so
that some of the nations are interested in moving into the OIE standards.
I'm just wondering, which countries show that?
SEC. CONNER: Well, in terms of this trip I'll be having more to say about
that at a later point. I'll just again report as I said in my remarks in
here that we feel like we have made some progress towards moving toward OIE
standards in certain situations.
REPORTER: -- with Japan?
SEC. CONNER: I'm not going to say anything more. You guys heard my remarks.
REPORTER: What are the next steps now that the Asian trip is over?
SEC. CONNER: Well, obviously we need to get a full briefing from the group
that just returned over the weekend, both Sue Schwab and I. I will be
meeting with her in the middle part of this week, Wednesday I believe Sue
and I are scheduled to have a meeting. We'll plot out our next steps based
upon that briefing. Obviously we're going to continue to reach out to all of
our counterparts in these countries, continue to press them with just the
strongest possible message that we can: "Simply do what you said you were
going to do. This is not a tough situation. You are a part of the
international body, you've been a part of these negotiations, you've
indicated what you're going to do. Fulfill that obligation, open up your
markets according to the science-based standards of the OIE."
Again, it's not difficult. It's something that for the sake of international
trade, for the sake of all exports moving around the country, around the
globe freely, they should be willing to do because these are countries that
are champions of trade, champions of trade according to international
standards. Now they just need to do it for this particular product.
http://www.usda.gov/
OH my, where do i start. let's start with the OIE this, OIE that, BSe, and
what this OIE gold stamp actually means ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate
declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries.
The OIE is not
responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on
inaccurate information or
changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not
promptly
reported to then Central Bureau............
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
WHAT this OIE gold stamp actually means, you can get this stamp of approval
simply by what ever data you submit,
no matter how false it may be, simple as that, and we know just how honest
this administration has been in the past.
it was about nothing more than trade, commodities and futures.
please see full text here ;
http://usdameatexport.blogspot.com/
TSS
