Indo-Pacific Deal Could Open New Markets for CA Cattle

California livestock producers could have access to Asian markets if talks with trading partners in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework go well.

Travis Arp, assistant vice president of export services with the U.S Meat Export Federation, says there are few details right now regarding what the economic framework will entail.

“They see it as an opportunity to work with counties across the Asia Pacific region to address various issues related to market access and barriers to trade and help open these markets to U.S. exporters looking at issues like science-based trade, good regulatory practices, and transparency with regulations.”

He says when it comes to additional trade priorities for the red meat industry, USMEF wants U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to address tariffs, quotas, and import-licensing schemes within these countries.

Arp says the Indo-Pacific trade talks could be a big win for American cattle producers.

“If there's an opportunity to address some of these systemic barriers to trade, so, for example, gaining more beef access into markets like Korea and creating more opportunities for plants to get approved in markets like Malaysia and Indonesia, then this could potentially pose a significant boost to red meat exports in the future, providing that those issues can get addressed within the framework.”