This week, USDA Secretary Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Froman announced that Peru will fully reopen their market to U.S. beef exports. The move will lift the burdensome certification requirement on U.S. beef exports that has been in place in Peru since 2003. With the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognition of the U.S. as “negligible risk” for BSE and finalization of APHIS's comprehensive BSE rule, U.S. beef trade continues to exceed pre-2003 levels.
Since implementation of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement in 2009, U.S. beef and beef product imports to Peru have expanded to nearly $25.5 million. With the full elimination of trade barriers, U.S. beef exports to Peru will continue to expand as Peruvians demand high-quality U.S. beef. USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service expects U.S. beef exports to continue to grow at least 15 percent a year for the next five years.
Beef trade remains a major driver of the U.S. cattle industry and an essential component to stable markets and increased profitability. In 2015, U.S. beef exports exceeded $6 billion and added $325 in value to every head of the cattle sold in the U.S. Expanding trade and growing existing markets remains a top priority for the NCBA.
Source: Beltway Beef Newsletter
