Vietnam Removes Restrictions on U.S. Beef

Good news for U.S. beef exports — Vietnam recently removed all cattle age and product restrictions on U.S.beef and beef products. This removal of cattle age and product restrictions is a positive development, especially in a market like Vietnam that is rather price-sensitive.
U.S. Meat Export Federation Technical Services Manager Dr. Travis Arp shares more details of the gradual opening of Vietnam to U.S. beef.
Arp: “It was a gradual easing back into the market with 2005 getting boneless, less than 30 month beef and then again in 2006 then adding bone-in products. But this opening will really allow us to full access for all range of products. it will negate the necessity for EV programs. Packers and processors will not have to do any more segregation of over-30 month and under-30 month cattle so that reduces cost associated with that product for that market by a pretty substantial margin. And then by the same token, we have a lot of processors who do exclusively over-30 month cattle get access to this market that previously didn’t have it.”
Vietnam is also a participant in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Full access to the Vietnamese market will allow the U.S. beef industry to better capitalize on tariff rate reductions that may be achieved through the TPP.