Namibia has become Africa’s first country to export red meat to the U.S.
The deal was the result of almost two decades of negotiations.
State-owned meat company Meatco sent a shipment of 35 tons of beef to the East Coast on March 2.
The country is expected to export 860 tons of beef to the U.S. in 2020, rising to 5,000 tons by 2025.
The go-ahead for exports came after beef samples were sent from Namibia to U.S. laboratories for testing over the past 24 months.
Exports will be made up of frozen or chilled raw beef cuts.
“Namibia will benefit economically from tapping into the largest consumer market with purchasing power of $13 trillion, and U.S. consumers will benefit from access to Namibia’s high-quality, free-range, grass-fed beef,” U.S. Ambassador to Namibia Lisa Johnson said.
The exports will also benefit from a duty-free system under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
