R-CALF calls for meat tariffs

In the fallout following President Donald Trump’s comments about potential tariffs on steel and aluminum, the R-CALF board of directors voted to call on Trump to impose tariffs on imported cattle, beef, sheep and lamb. The group claims this move is necessary to protect domestic beef and lamb producers. Its leaders especially blame the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for harming the interests of U.S. livestock producers. The announcement from the group about the vote cited R-CALF Board President Bryan Hanson. He said the group is working “to determine the appropriate level of tariffs that are needed to rebalance trade flows and halt the ongoing contraction of the U.S. cattle and sheep industries.” In contrast, members of the U.S. Meat Export Federation have repeatedly said tariffs, or the dismantling of NAFTA, would severely harm U.S. livestock producers. Mexico and Canada are among the top trade partners for U.S. beef. As has been reported frequently in the pages of WLJ, many have speculated that U.S. agricultural tariffs would likely be met with retaliatory tariffs, particularly from Mexico. — WLJ