26 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN October 2025 POLICY NCBA Works to Deliver Increased Market Access to Cattle Producers KENT BACUS | NCBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS It has been a whirlwind year on the international trade front with numerous announcements from the Trump administration regarding tariffs and trade deals. In April, President Trump implemented reciprocal tariffs on imported goods to address trade practices contributing to the large and persistent annual trade deficit. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supports the president working to hold our trading partners accountable and expanding opportunities for U.S. cattle producers to sell their beef abroad. Let’s first dive into work to expand export markets. These foreign markets are a top priority for NCBA’s advocacy efforts because U.S. cattle producers benefit from the added value international trade brings. In 2024, export markets added $415 per head of cattle. A big part of that is because foreign markets value cuts like tongue at a much higher price than in the U.S. domestic market, helping drive up prices overall. NCBA is working with the Trump administration and Congress on possible new trade agreements and to hold our current trading partners accountable. We also regularly meet with various foreign trade officials to promote U.S. beef and discuss trade issues. NCBA is excited for future possibilities as the Trump administration is currently doubling down on expanding U.S. beef exports. Now let’s look at tariffs. Tariffs can be an effective tool in negotiations where we seek to improve trading conditions for American cattle producers. The $29 billion beef trade deficit we have with Australia is a great example of the U.S. getting the short end of the stick. For the past 20 years, Australia has enjoyed open access to the U.S. market, and they have sold more than $28.7 billion worth of Australian beef. At the same time, Australia has thrown up countless administrative hurdles and non-tariff trade barriers to block the United States from being able to sell even $1 of American beef into their market. This is a lopsided and unfair trading relationship, which is why NCBA supports President Trump potentially using tariffs and other tools to hold Australia accountable and ensure a fairer market. All we want is a level playing field and the same access to the Australian market that we provide in our market. Numerous other countries impose tariff and non-tariff trade barriers on American beef and other countries that limit our opportunities to export our high-quality product. Vietnam places a 30 percent tariff and Thailand places a 50 percent tariff on U.S. beef, making it close to impossible to sell U.S. beef in either country. The European Union also places numerous non-scientific, misguided and incorrect climate restrictions on American beef, such as carbon taxes that limit market opportunities. NCBA submitted this information to the Trump administration in formal comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and also highlighted that countries like Brazil and Paraguay were allowed access to the U.S. market by the Biden administration, despite overwhelming evidence of their animal health risk. This includes both countries’ history of dangerous foot-and-mouth disease and deficient safety practices. President Trump is already delivering results on improving trading conditions. In May, President Trump unveiled a trade agreement-in-principle with the United Kingdom (U.K.) that includes market access for beef. This announcement follows years of NCBA’s hard work building the foundation for a trade deal with the U.K., including numerous meetings with British industry stakeholders; members of Parliament; the British Embassy; the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and other top British authorities. All this work NCBA put in to expand trade with the U.K. has proven to be fruitful after the U.K. left the European Union in 2020. That opened the door to secure trade deals like the current agreement and ultimately allows for more top-quality U.S. beef to be exported to the U.K. NCBA appreciates the Trump administration for engaging in these high-stakes international trade negotiations and for utilizing all available tools to rebalance trading relationships, helping to ensure American beef is treated fairly in foreign markets. NCBA has always played the long game in international trade talks and will continue working to expand market access for U.S. beef and create more opportunities for producers to increase their profitability. ~NC~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMxNTA5