USMEF’s Seng Briefs New Administration on Beef Access, Pork Issues

USMEF’s Seng Briefs New Administration on Beef Access, Pork Issues

USMEF President and CEO Phil Seng briefed a number of Obama administration officials in Washington, D.C., this week, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk, and members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Foreign Agricultural Service, to provide USMEF’s international insights on market access for both U.S. beef and pork.

“The new (Obama) administration is listening to the industry,” said Seng. “That’s very encouraging.”

Seng underscored the importance of beef and pork exports as well as the value of enhanced market development.  He provided background to the officials on continuing BSE-related issues affecting beef access, as well as current bans on U.S. pork resulting from the H1N1 flu virus.

“USMEF’s view is that we need to enhance our relationships with our trading partners so that they will be more open to resolving the access issues we face,” he said.  “If we can strengthen those relationships now, we’re less likely to suffer repercussions when crisis situations develop.”

While in the nation’s capital, Seng also met with several representatives from America’s international trade partners to discuss opportunities for expanding U.S. exports to those nations.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.

USMEF’s Seng Briefs New Administration on Beef Access, Pork Issues

USMEF President and CEO Phil Seng briefed a number of Obama administration officials in Washington, D.C., this week, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk, and members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Foreign Agricultural Service, to provide USMEF’s international insights on market access for both U.S. beef and pork.

“The new (Obama) administration is listening to the industry,” said Seng. “That’s very encouraging.”

Seng underscored the importance of beef and pork exports as well as the value of enhanced market development.  He provided background to the officials on continuing BSE-related issues affecting beef access, as well as current bans on U.S. pork resulting from the H1N1 flu virus.

“USMEF’s view is that we need to enhance our relationships with our trading partners so that they will be more open to resolving the access issues we face,” he said.  “If we can strengthen those relationships now, we’re less likely to suffer repercussions when crisis situations develop.”

While in the nation’s capital, Seng also met with several representatives from America’s international trade partners to discuss opportunities for expanding U.S. exports to those nations.

# # #

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.