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Nation's top trade official addresses meat exporters

Speaking at the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s annual board meeting in Washington last week, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said he’s committed to making U.S. exports acornerstone of the nation’s economic recovery.

However, Kirk emphasized that trading partners must honor their commitments and grant fair and consistent market access to U.S. products. Effectively enforcing these provisions in major markets, Kirk says, can often have a morepositive impact on trade than striking new trade agreements.

“We aren’t going to continue to gain new access by doing small, or more, trade deals just to do them,” Kirk says. “In many cases, we can get you more meaningful access by dealing with some of theseissues that have come up because of other non-tariff barriers that have arisen that have locked you out of other markets.”

Kirk also acknowledged the industry’s frustration with unreasonable trade suspensions imposed on U.S. pork—and in some cases, beef—due to the H1N1influenza. He says his office is working to help resolve those issues.

USMEF vice chair Keith Miller, a farmer-stockman from Great Bend, Kansas, says Kirk delivered a powerful message that was well-received by USMEF members.

“I felt that thisman truly understands our industry and he truly understands that we make a big impact on the economy of the United States,” says Miller, “and I feel he’s in our corner trying to help us make agriculture profitable and help us be able to feed the people around the world.”

Kirk told the group he no only welcomes the input of ag producers on matters of trade, he knows it is absolutely essential to his success as the nation’s top trade official.