DRAFT MINUTES * National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)
Joint International Markets Committee Meeting * July 12, 2006 * Reno, NV
Committee Chairman Ed Blair called the meeting to order at 12:35 a.m.Julie McWright, NCBA Manager of International Markets, served as the recording secretary.
Due to time constraints, USDA Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Floyd Gaibler addressed the committee before any business was discussed. Mr. Gaibler discussed several pertinent issues concerning the beef industry, including BSE, export market updates, and the Administration’s upcoming trade agenda. Mr. Gaibler gave market updates on Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand. He stressed that the Administration would continue to work on regaining access to export markets and that a major concern for the future will be Russia. Mr. Gaibler also discussed the current and upcoming free trade agreements and the WTO Doha Round negotiations before indulging the committee in a short question and answer period.
The committee was then given the chance to do beginning business. Bob McCan moved to approve the agenda and accept the minutes; Howard Hardecke seconded the motion, and the motion passed by voice vote.
The next speaker was Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends. LP was the next speaker. Mr. Stuart provided an extensive economic perspective on global beef trade. He addressed numerous issues including worldwide beef consumption, currency impacts on trade, and economicand population growth rates in several key export markets. Mr. Stuart addressed the issue of the recovery of U.S. beef trade after the discovery of BSE. He mentioned key competitors, including Australia (in our Asian market), and Brazil (in our Russian market). A question and answer period also followed his presentation.
Cara Gerken of IMI Global was the third speaker. Mrs. Gerken gave an explanation of the Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) program for exporting beef to the European Union.She also discussed Quality System Assessment (QSA) requirements for exporting, and how to use these marketing tools to expand beef export markets. There was a short question and answer period.
Next, Lynn Heinze and Tom Lipetzky from the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF)presented information on the marketing programs and efforts of USMEF.They discussed the importance of the marketing programs and efforts in ensuring the success of our product in the foreign market place, even after that market opens to U.S. beef.Twelve budge Authorization Requests (AR) were presented to the committee on continuing/expanding USMEF marketing and research in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Greater China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and New & Emerging Markets. Alan Albright moved to approve all twelve ARs, Ross Herwin seconded the motion and it passed by a voice vote. (All twelve ARs are available upon request.)
Gregg Doud, NCBA’s Chief Economist, gave a quick update on the WTO Doha Development Round, current and future FTAs, and export markets affected by BSE.
Chairman Blairthen provided committee members with copies ofall proposed resolutions.Chairman Blair asked if there was a motion to adopt the followingproposed resolution:
IM Interim Policy
Trade and Retaliatory Measures
2006/New
WHEREAS, the U.S. trade deficit continues to grow, and
WHEREAS, the United States is now a net beef importer both in terms of tonnage and dollar value, and
WHEREAS, other countries have closed borders to U.S. meat products due to either unscientific food safety concerns or incorrect paperwork, and
WHEREAS, a single U.S. shipment bound for export that fails to meet agreed upon requirements should not be grounds for closing off the entire country’s exports,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NCBA use all means necessary to lobby the U.S. Congress and Administration to pursue swift and appropriate trade retaliatory measures against countries who implement such trade practices as mentioned above.
Bill Donald moved to adopt the proposedresolution. Bob McCan seconded the motion, and the resolution passed by a voice vote.
Chairman Blair then asked if there was a motion to adopt the following proposed resolution:
IM Interim Policy
U.S.A. Beef for U.S. Troops Serving Overseas
2006/New
WHEREAS, our United States Troops are serving overseas to protect U.S. citizens and interests domestically and worldwide, and
WHEREAS, the beef sourced from outside the U.S. is not subject to USDA inspection and does not meet the same quality standards as U.S. beef, and
WHEREAS, contractors may not always use U.S. sourced beef for supplying troops in Iraq and otherU.S. bases overseas,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NCBA will work to supply U.S. troops with U.S. beef.
After a brief discussion, Bob McCan moved to adopt the resolution with the following amendments:
IM Interim Policy
U.S.A. Beef for U.S. Troops Serving Overseas
2006/New
WHEREAS, our United States Troops are serving overseas to protect U.S. citizens and interests domestically and worldwide, and
WHEREAS, the beef sourced from outside the U.S. is not subject to USDA inspection and does not meet the same quality standards as U.S. beef, and
WHEREAS, contractors may not always use U.S. sourced beef for supplying troops in Iraq and other U.S. bases overseas,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NCBA will work to supply U.S. troops with U.S. beefy require suppliers for our U.S. troops worldwide to provide U.S. produced beef.
Cevin Jones moved to adopt the resolution as amended.Bill Donald seconded the motion, and the resolution was adopted by a voice vote.
Chairman Blair then asked for any other business that needs attention, and seeing none, adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Members in attendance included:
Susie Magnuson, American National
Cattlewomen
Jim Almond, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Ed Blair, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Mike Brooks, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Dan Dierschke, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Robert Fountain, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Ross Garwood, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Dana Hauck, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Chuck Markley, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Frank Phelps, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
James Webb, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Stanley Zylstra, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Bill Gray, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
Don Anderson, (substitute for Mark Gustafson),
Colorado Livestock Association
Cevin Jones, Idaho Cattle Association
Randy Faber, Illinois Beef Association
James Culp, Indiana Beef Cattle Association
Bill Scheitler,Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
Matt Teagarden (substitute for Tom Moxley),
Kansas Livestock Association
Nevil Speer, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association
Howard Hardecke (vacant), Missouri
Cattlemen’s Association
Bill Donald, Montana Stockgrowers Association
Alan Albright, NCBA Federation
Jim Peterson, NCBA Policy
Pete McClymont (vacant), NebraskaCattlemen
Melvin Leland (substitute for Steve Brooks),
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association
Keith Burgett, Ohio Beef Council
Luisa Munsee,NCBA Region V Representative
Myron Openshaw (substitute for Chris Nelson),
California Cattlemen’s Association
Marshall Edleman (substitute for Chad Blair),
South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association
Bob McCan, TX & Southwestern Cattle Raisers
David Owen, (substitute for John Gillcrist),
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Larry Traun, (substitute for Steve Van Lannen),
Wisconsin Beef Council
Guests in attendance included:
Wanda Blair, South Dakota
Larry Jefcoat, Mississippi
Davis Hurt, Mississippi
JB Douglas, Texas
Floyd Gaibler, USDA
Bryan Prins, South Dakota
Rod Smith, Feedstuffs
Tracy Thomas, Kansas
Wythe Willey, Iowa
AliBay, California
Stephanie Norrell, Virginia
S. Tamborini, Washington, DC
Jon Kirkbridge, Wyoming
Chris Clayton, Nebraska
Bob Aitcth, Alberta
Raymond Newhouse, South Dakota
Rachel Buzzetti, Nevada
Rosalee Coleman, Texas
Stanley Miller, Kansas
Fred Gorrell, Washington, DC (Canada)
Sid Sumner, Florida
Matt Bishop, Meat & Livestock Australia (DC)
Kelvin Whall, Meat & Wool New Zealand (DC)
John Masswhol, Canada
Brad Wildeman, Canada
Dennis Laycraft, Canada
Stan M. Kristy, Oklahoma
Chris Calkins, Nebraska
Mark Armentrout, Georgia
Dina C. Reitzel, New Mexico Beef Council
Jon Ferguson, Kansas Beef Council
Carolyn Carey, California
Graeme Goodsir, Pennsylvania