The U.S. Commerce Department is continuing to seek duties against China because of aluminum imports. That could create future trade tensions with the nation that just recently started accepting U.S. beef. Nebraska Cattlemen Association President Troy Stowater says it’s too soon to say if there will be any backlash to agriculture or the cattle industry from those aluminum duties.

He says U.S. companies that are shipping beef to China are proceeding cautiously in order not to violate any trade protocols.

Stowater says trade is important to the U.S. cattle industry and our far east customers tend to purchase non traditional beef cuts that aren’t usually bought by U.S. consumers.

Stowater is hoping U.S. trade negotiators will get moving soon on fast tracking a bilateral trade deal with Japan and continue to work to ease trade protocols with the Chinese.