Alabama Cattlemen Urge Congress to Block Trump Beef Imports

The Alabama Cattleman’s Association (ACA) continues to push back against President Trump’s plan to allow 300,000 metric tons of imported beef to come into the country without paying out-of-quota tariffs.

On Monday, the ACA posted on social media that:

In a follow-up to last week’s statement regarding increased foreign beef imports, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is encouraging Congress to call on President Trump to reconsider this executive order.

The best way to strengthen America’s beef supply is to invest in the cattle producers who raise beef right here at home. Now is the time for elected leaders to hear directly from America’s cattle producers. ➡️ https://beef.quorum.us/campaign/pnppfpy7 

The link at the end of the post is to a petition from the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, which reads:

Take action today and tell Congress and the White House to oppose plans to increase foreign beef imports. 

President Trump has proposed increasing imports of foreign beef, including an additional 300,000 metric tons that would enter the U.S. market at prices well below current market levels. NCBA strongly opposes this proposal because it threatens to undermine the very market conditions that are encouraging cattle producers to rebuild the American herd.  

After years of drought, high input costs, and shrinking inventories, strong demand for high-quality American beef is sending the right market signals for producers to reinvest and expand. Flooding the market with discounted foreign beef sends exactly the opposite signal. Government intervention designed to force down prices will create long-term harm to family farms and ranches, domestic beef production, and the stability of the U.S. cattle industry. 

Now is the time for elected leaders to hear directly from cattle producers. Your voice is critical in this fight. 

The petition may be signed by anyone, not just cattlemen, and will presumably be passed on to the White House and Congressional leaders.

On Monday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall went on CNBC, where he was highly critical of President Trump's temporary pause on beef import tariffs, especially at this time of year when ranchers are making critical decisions about which cattle to sell and which to retain as breeding stock. 

"Every time there is some sort of announcement, he (President Trump) introduces uncertainty,” Woodall said. “The last thing in the world that cattle markets like is uncertainty."

Resistance to the President’s plan has been rising on social media since Friday, as ranchers and public officials reacted to the announcement. Aside from creating uncertainty for ranchers, a principal objection has been that the overall effect of the imports will be negligible, at least as far as the price paid by consumers.

It has also been pointed out that Argentina will likely be a source for much of the imported beef, and China recently rejected a shipment of Argentinian beef due to chloramphenicol contamination. Chloramphenicol, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, is associated with bone marrow suppression, aplastic anemia, gray baby syndrome, leukemia and other potentially fatal side effects, which is why it is rarely used today.

To sign the petition opposing increased beef imports, go to: https://beef.quorum.us/campaign/pnppfpy7