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USTRNonrulemakingUSTR-2009-0021

Request for Comments Concerning Free Trade Agreement With the Republic of Colombia

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National Cattlemen's Beef Association filings
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National Cattlemen's Beef Association filed 1 comment on this docket between Sep 14, 2009 and Sep 14, 2009. 108 other organizations filed here. The comment window closed 6160d ago.

What National Cattlemen's Beef Association filed (1)

Sep 14, 2009· Comment from Gary Voogt, National Cattlemen's Beef Association· USTR-2009-0021-0055

Thursday, September 10th, 2009 Mr. Bennett Harman Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Latin America Office of the United States Trade Representative 600 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20208 RE: Office of the United States Trade Representative Docket No: USTR-2009-0021-0001 Comments on the Free Trade Agreement with the Republic of Colombia The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is pleased to provide comment on the potential benefits of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA). If enacted, the CTPA would eliminate duties immediately on high quality beef, and reduce tariffs on all other products. This association will continue to advocate for the consideration and passage of the pending, already negotiated free trade agreements (FTAs) as well as work to expand current and future market access for our nation's beef producers. NCBA has represented America's cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the oldest and largest national association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef. NCBA and its affiliates represent about 230,000 producers, in every state, at all levels of production. NCBA supports quick passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. Colombia is the United States' 10th largest trading partner worldwide in agriculture and livestock products. The CTPA not only provides an opportunity to level the playing field at long last, but it also provides a significant opportunity to expand U.S. beef and beef variety meat sales to the Colombian market. Colombia is an important market for U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports. As other countries successfully negotiate similar agreements with Colombia, the U.S.-Colombia TPA will help the U.S. agriculture industry sustain a competitive edge. With 96% of the world's population living outside our borders, we as a competitive global society must look abroad to generate new market opportunities and expand existing ones with meaningful market access. In May 2003, on the verge of launching FTA negotiations with the United States, the Colombian government raised its 20% applied tariff on U.S. beef to the maximum allowed (bound) tariff of 80% (70% for variety meats). Colombia still maintains this tariff level on U.S. beef imports today, making it one of the highest tariffs U.S. beef faces anywhere in the world. Once entered into force, this agreement immediately provides duty free access for high quality U.S. beef, reduces tariffs on all other beef and beef products over 15 years, and for the first time ever, puts us on a competitive footing with the beef Colombia imports from Brazil and Argentina. NCBA estimates that the failure to ratify this agreement and regain merely traditional levels of market share for U.S. beef exports to Colombia has cost the U.S. beef industry $5.5 million in exports over the past two years. In 2008, the U.S. exported only 461 metric tons of beef and beef variety meats to Colombia worth a paltry $800,000 when up against these 80% duties. Just as important, this agreement provides assurances for a stable export market through plant inspection equivalency. It also fully reopens the Colombian market to U.S. beef by assuring that Colombia adheres to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines related to BSE. In an official side letter, Colombia made written commitment to resume imports of all U.S. beef and beef products by no later than October 31, 2006 and agreed that all federally inspected U.S. establishments are eligible to export into Colombia. But until the U.S.-Colombia TPA is passed and implemented, U.S. beef exports will continue to face tariffs of up to 80%, making it impossible to compete in this growing market. In addition to immediate duty-free access for U.S. Prime and Choice beef, other beef products within certain tariff rate quotas (TRQs) will enjoy considerabl…

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