USCA Sends Letter to President Trump: Successful USMCA Negotiation Will Include COOL
(WASHINGTON) – Today, the United
States Cattlemen's Association (USCA) sent a letter to President Donald J.
Trump reiterating that a successful renegotiation of the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) includes the reestablishment of a
country-of-origin labeling program for U.S. beef.
In the letter, USCA Preisdent Kenny Graner states,
"Though COOL failed to make it into the final text of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada
Agreement (USMCA), there is still an opportunity to address the unfair
treatment of cattle and beef in this trade agreement, which has resulted in
economic harm over the years to cow-calf producers, backgrounders, and feedlot
operators.
"The impact of a poor cattle market and decreasing live cattle prices
coincide with the continued decline in America’s rural economy and the rising
income disparity between rural and urban residents. The rural America that
overwhelmingly supported you in the 2016 election due to your “America first”
agenda now has one simple ask, Mr. President.
"On behalf of our nationwide membership, we respectfully request the
inclusion of a country-oforigin labeling program for U.S. beef products within
the context of USMCA."