United States beef exports will hit a record in 2018, despite the headwinds of the trade war and tariffs. That was the message U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom shared with cattle producers at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention in New Orleans. Beef exports will top $8 billion for the first time and that is a great source of industry optimism.
He says sales of U.S. beef were up in many export markets in 2018, contributing to the record.
Halstrom says there are a combination of factors that have made U.S. beef attractive to export customers, including rising disposable income and the U.S.’s reputation for food safety.
He cautions that in order to maintain this strong momentum, a trade agreement with Japan is needed that will eliminate the widening tariff rate gap between Japan’s imports of U.S. beef and its imports from Australia, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.
Halstrom adds that ratification of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is also essential so that U.S. beef can continue to enter Mexico and Canada duty-free.
