Brazilan Beef Tariff Exemption Proposal Causes Concern

A potential exemption for Brazilian beef imports has become a hot topic as the White House looks to increase the beef supply and ease prices. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johannes.

“The White House put out a variety of ideas, all aimed at trying to lower, you know, the cost that consumers are paying for beef at the at the grocery store. I think there have been some pretty significant flaws behind several of those ideas. There's a lot of issues at play with the discussion this week with Brazil that were also in play, you know, in October and November when we were having the same conversation around loosening restrictions and increasing access for Argentinian imports.”

Johannes outlines reasons why the proposed exemption raises concerns.

“Number one, we don't really want to be undercutting U.S. producers with increased levels of you know imported product. Number two, there's animal health and and food safety risks to some of these products. A lot of the countries that we're dealing with here, you know, have a spotty record, for example, on things like reporting BSC in a timely manner to the international authorities, or have spotty areas of FMD risk control and things like that.”

And Johannes is skeptical whether or not a Brazilian tariff beef exemption will actually result in lower beef prices for U.S. consumers.