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R-CALF wants NAFTA updates to level the playing field

The leader of a cattle producers group says NAFTA has put U.S. producers at a disadvantage in the marketplace and cheaper imports from Canada and Mexico only benefit meat packers.

“The Canadian cattle in 2016, the fed cattle, were about $60 a head cheaper than U.S. cattle.  The Mexican feeder cattle in 2016 were about $70 a head cheaper.  We have to level the playing field with that price disparity.”

R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says since NAFTA was finalized in the early ‘90s, the U.S. has lost about 9,000 cattle operations per year.  “We have trade policies that fail to recognize unique characteristics of the cattle industry and the difference between cattle producers and beef packers. We’re hoping the Trump administration works very quickly to address these issues in NAFTA.”

R-CALF USA has identified seven priorities for the administration to modernize NAFTA which include reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL), reversing weakened U.S. food safety standards and restoring import restrictions among others.

AUDIO: Interview with Bill Bullard