News

NCBA optimistic tariffs will help level the playing field for U.S. beef

The head lobbyist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says he’s optimistic the President’s tariff announcement will level the playing field for U.S. beef on the global market.  Ethan Lane says American beef has been the target of unfair trade practices. “The President, in executing this tariff strategy, is attempting to fix some of those imbalances, which we view as a real help to the US cattle industry,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the President is using tariffs as leverage, but tariffs can stand in the way of free market access. “Our role here is to make sure we’re giving him very clear-eyed guidance and input about what’s helpful and what’s not as he moves through this strategy,” he says.  “And point out those areas where we believe that that strategy could be applied to get cattle producers a better deal in the world market.”

Lane says Australia is a perfect example.  He says there has been a free trade agreement in place between the two countries for two decades. “During that time, they’ve enjoyed unfettered access to the US market, and they’ve taken full advantage of that to sell lean trim and increasingly high-quality fed Wagyu, and things like that into the US market,” he says. “And they have continued to stonewall and throw up roadblocks to granting reciprocal access to their market.”

The U.S. imports beef primarily from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia, while the top five U.S. export destinations are Japan, Mexico, South Korea, China, and Canada.

In 2024, the value of U.S. beef exports reached $10.45 billion and accounted for about 11 percent of total U.S. beef production. The top five U.S. beef export destinations were Japan, Mexico, South Korea, China, and Canada.

AUDIO: Ethan Lane, NCBA