International Trade Session Concludes 2008 World Meat Congress
International Trade Session Concludes 2008 World Meat Congress
An extensive session focusing on international trade issues brought the 2008 IMS World Meat Congress to a close Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa. Hosted biennially by the International Meat Secretariat (IMS), the World Meat Congress offered three full days of presentations and panel discussions on global issues affecting the livestock and meat industries.
Today’s session on international trade was chaired by USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. The only American ever to serve as IMS president (four terms from 1997 to 2004), Seng currently serves on the IMS Executive Council and as chair of the IMS Animal Welfare Committee.
Speakers included Dr. Craig Morris, deputy administrator for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Dr. Morris updated attendees on the U.S. trade situation and highlighted ongoing challenges for U.S. beef exports. While this year’s beef exports will reach their highest level since 2003, trade barriers continue to limit market access and hinder availability in some markets.
One of the most rapidly emerging markets for U.S. beef is Russia, where U.S. beef exports are on pace to set an all-time record in 2008. Some of the factors driving this growth were discussed today by Serge Yustin, CEO of the Russian National Meat Association. Yustin described Russia’s tremendous recovery in meat demand, following a massive decline in both consumption and production during the past two decades. He said beef production in Russia is expected to continue to decline, with beef imports possibly approaching 1 million metric tons (2.2 billion pounds) in the next five years. While pork production is expected to increase, imports will still be necessary to supply Russia’s processing industry because of exceptionally high costs of Russian pork production, combined with strong Russian meat demand.
Addressing the recent discussions of possible changes in Russia’s tariff rate quotas (TRQ) on meat imports, Yustin said there are still many unanswered questions surrounding this issue. He said an increase in the TRQ for beef imports is likely, but expects reductions in pork and poultry quotas due to growth in Russia’s domestic production.
Dr. Gideon Bruckner, deputy director of the International Organization for Animal Health (OIE) also addressed the conference regarding OIE’s role in facilitating international trade in the meat and livestock industries. The program also featured speakers from Argentina, Brazil, the European Union, Japan and Namibia, addressing issues affecting meat and livestock trade in their respective regions.
Earlier in the week, the conference featured two presentations by USMEF staff. On Monday, Joel Haggard, senior vice president for the Asia Pacific region, provided attendees with an update on pork trade in Asia, with specific focus on the factors driving the recent surge in pork exports to China. On Tuesday, USMEF Manager of Research and Analysis Erin Daley gave a keynote address on major global trends in beef and pork consumption.
More information on the 2008 IMS World Meat Congress is available online.
Retail Beef for Japan
The sister company of a U.S. firm with a 20-year history of exporting fish and animal feed products to Japan is looking for U.S. beef to supply retail outlets in Japan. ACS Trading Corporation will pay in the United States via wire transfer or letter of credit and is looking for consistent quality from companies with experience in shipping beef to Japan. Contact:
ACS Trading Corporation
J.C. Jordan, Export Manager
P.O. BOX 4679
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Tel: 415-738-2136
Fax: 530-672-6442
jcjordan@acstradingusa.com
International Trade Session Concludes 2008 World Meat Congress
An extensive session focusing on international trade issues brought the 2008 IMS World Meat Congress to a close Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa. Hosted biennially by the International Meat Secretariat (IMS), the World Meat Congress offered three full days of presentations and panel discussions on global issues affecting the livestock and meat industries.
Today’s session on international trade was chaired by USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. The only American ever to serve as IMS president (four terms from 1997 to 2004), Seng currently serves on the IMS Executive Council and as chair of the IMS Animal Welfare Committee.
Speakers included Dr. Craig Morris, deputy administrator for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Dr. Morris updated attendees on the U.S. trade situation and highlighted ongoing challenges for U.S. beef exports. While this year’s beef exports will reach their highest level since 2003, trade barriers continue to limit market access and hinder availability in some markets.
One of the most rapidly emerging markets for U.S. beef is Russia, where U.S. beef exports are on pace to set an all-time record in 2008. Some of the factors driving this growth were discussed today by Serge Yustin, CEO of the Russian National Meat Association. Yustin described Russia’s tremendous recovery in meat demand, following a massive decline in both consumption and production during the past two decades. He said beef production in Russia is expected to continue to decline, with beef imports possibly approaching 1 million metric tons (2.2 billion pounds) in the next five years. While pork production is expected to increase, imports will still be necessary to supply Russia’s processing industry because of exceptionally high costs of Russian pork production, combined with strong Russian meat demand.
Addressing the recent discussions of possible changes in Russia’s tariff rate quotas (TRQ) on meat imports, Yustin said there are still many unanswered questions surrounding this issue. He said an increase in the TRQ for beef imports is likely, but expects reductions in pork and poultry quotas due to growth in Russia’s domestic production.
Dr. Gideon Bruckner, deputy director of the International Organization for Animal Health (OIE) also addressed the conference regarding OIE’s role in facilitating international trade in the meat and livestock industries. The program also featured speakers from Argentina, Brazil, the European Union, Japan and Namibia, addressing issues affecting meat and livestock trade in their respective regions.
Earlier in the week, the conference featured two presentations by USMEF staff. On Monday, Joel Haggard, senior vice president for the Asia Pacific region, provided attendees with an update on pork trade in Asia, with specific focus on the factors driving the recent surge in pork exports to China. On Tuesday, USMEF Manager of Research and Analysis Erin Daley gave a keynote address on major global trends in beef and pork consumption.
More information on the 2008 IMS World Meat Congress is available online.
Retail Beef for Japan
The sister company of a U.S. firm with a 20-year history of exporting fish and animal feed products to Japan is looking for U.S. beef to supply retail outlets in Japan. ACS Trading Corporation will pay in the United States via wire transfer or letter of credit and is looking for consistent quality from companies with experience in shipping beef to Japan. Contact:
ACS Trading Corporation
J.C. Jordan, Export Manager
P.O. BOX 4679
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Tel: 415-738-2136
Fax: 530-672-6442
jcjordan@acstradingusa.com