The United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, urging for strong comprehensive trade action under Section 301. Jenna Stanton, USCA Director of Policy and Public Affairs, expressed support of additional tariffs on Brazilian bovine products. Stanton said, “Brazil’s cattle sector enjoys an unfair advantage that no U.S. rancher can, or would ever want to, compete with, a virtually unlimited supply of cheap, illegally created land and labor.”
“Those are not isolated abuses, they are business models. We are simply asking for a market where everyone plays by the same basic rules,” Stanton added.
Stanton also said, “This is not a food security or affordability question. Imposing tariffs on Brazilian beef will not empty grocery store shelves. Right now, our members are being asked to compete in a market where one side follows strict environmental, labor, and animal husbandry rules, and the other side gets a leg up for violating global standards.”
USCA President Justin Tupper said, “This Section 301 case is a chance to send a different message that the United States will not reward deforestation, forced labor, and corruption with premium access to the most valuable beef market in the world.”
Tupper also said, “We’re asking USTR to stand with the independent producers who are doing things the right way and adopt strong, comprehensive tariffs on all Brazilian bovine products with no loopholes big enough to drive a container ship through.”
Audio Reporting by Elizabeth Sanders for Southeast AgNet.