WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced actions against the European Union (EU) over discriminatory trade practices against American beef imports.
"The U.S. beef industry produces the safest, most affordable beef in the world," said Chairman Roberts. "Unfortunately, the EU has chosen to limit the ability of U.S. beef producers to compete in the EU market by establishing a non-science based barrier to trade. The patience of U.S. beef producers has worn thin, as has my own. Our government must take proactive steps to enforce the rules of international trade, as it is critical to American beef industry. I will continue to monitor the situation and work in a bipartisan fashion to make sure our ranchers are given a fair shake.”
At the request of American beef producers, USTR has taken new action on a 1998 Word Trade Organization case, scheduling a public hearing and seeking public comment.
The importance of international trade opportunities for beef producers was stated most recently at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing this year.
-30-