Ranchers say ’no’ to free trade with Columbia

by North Platte Bulletin Staff - 9/21/2009

In formal comments filed this week, the ranchers advocacy group R-CALF USA urged the U.S. Trade Representative to reject a proposed free trade agreement with Colombia.

The U.S.-Colombia FTA “completely ignores the unique characteristics of the U.S. cattle industry and likely would harm farmers and ranchers, consumers, and the rural communities all across America that are economically dependent on a vibrant U.S. cattle industry,” R-CALF said.

R-CALF USA said domestic cattle prices were depressed during the nine years when U.S. beef exports rose to record levels. And, only after the U.S. border was closed to Canadian cattle due to mad cow disease problems in 2003, and U.S. beef exports fell to a 19-year low, did domestic cattle prices rebound.

U.S. cattle producers already suffer from a substantial global trade deficit in cattle and beef, and an even larger trade deficit with 17 countries that have free trade agreeements with the U.S.

The free trade agreements have generated a U.S. trade deficit that has exceeded $2 billion annually for the past five years, R-CALF said.

“The U.S.-Colombia FTA will further the destruction of the U.S. cattle industry by eliminating the opportunity for family farmers and ranchers to maintain economically viable businesses across America,” R-CALF said.

A notice and request for comments on the proposed FTA was published in the Federal Register by USTR in July, with comments due Sept. 15.