07/12/07 Argentina proposal

International trade is not a walk in the park. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute with the latest trade issue. Even someone with my limited knowledge of international trade can figure out completing a trade agreement is tough and time consuming. This procedure can be even lengthier if the trade involves agricultural products. Each country involved tries to protect their consumers from importation of unhealthy food items and local producers try to protect their domestic markets and the health of their domestic livestock herds from introduced diseases. In a new trade proposal, Argentina would like to export beef to the United States. Argentina has a foot and mouth disease problem, but they have a plan to regionalize their country and only export from those regions that are foot and mouth disease free. FMD is a highly contagious infection that can wipe out an entire herd of cattle. The USDA is actually considering Argentina's proposals and import beef from FMD-free regions. Well, the U.S. Cattlemen's Association has sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee in opposition of any attempt to weaken regulation of trade with Argentina. The USCA thinks these regions would only be gateways for beef from infected regions to enter the United States. Personally, I find it kind of odd our own USDA would consider importation of beef when our export markets have not been fully regained from the BSE bans. When other countries banned our beef it was the entire United States not just a region. Maybe our USDA should take heed. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 6/27/07