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Cattle Industry Opposes South Korean FTA Due to USTR, USDA Failures

Washington, D.C. (July 2, 2007) – R-CALF USA does not support the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) because it does not contain the safeguards, special rules, or rules of origin necessary to meet the minimal conditions important to the economic well-being of independent U.S. cattle producers.

 “Specifically, KORUS does not include the special rules that Congress mandated in the Trade Act of 2002 to reflect the perishable nature of cattle and beef,” said R-CALF USA Trade Committee Chair Eric Nelson. “There continues to be this open disregard for past Congressional mandates by this Administration and the Administrative branch.

 “KORUS includes neither safeguards to protect independent cattle producers for import surges and excess price volatility, nor an adequate rule of origin to prevent South Korea from exporting beef derived from cattle sourced from other countries,” he pointed out. “R-CALF recognizes that South Korea has been an important beef export market in the past – without a free trade agreement in place – indicating that it could be an important export market in the future with or without KORUS. 

“R-CALF USA insists that the provisions necessary to address the unique marketing characteristics of cattle and beef must be included in all free trade agreements in order to maintain fairness and equity for independent cattle producers in all countries,” Nelson emphasized.  

“We urge Congress to oppose the U.S.-Korean FTA until our U.S. trade negotiators begin following Congress’s mandate and the recommendations of U.S. cattle producers to incorporate provisions important to our industry,” concluded Nelson.     

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 R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA has more than 60 affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.   

                            This page was last updated on Tuesday, October 23, 2007.