07/18/05 Cattlemen want export markets open

07/18/05 Cattlemen want export markets open

Washington Ag July 18, 2005 The Washington Cattlemen's Association was both pleased and disappointed with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to overturn the temporary injunction that was keeping live Canadian cattle out of the United States. Association executive Jack Field explains. Field: "We are disappointed as an organization. We wanted to see a normalization of trade with all our export partners prior to the lifting of the ban on live Canadian cattle imports. We were happy that the science was upheld, but again very disappointed that we could not regain all of our export market prior to the lifting of the ban." And Field says the WCA will do whatever it can to apply pressure to get export markets reopened as quickly as possible. Japan of course is the big market and Field heard the remarks Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns made in a teleconference Friday. Field: "He said that USDA officials were certainly talking with Japanese officials and telling them that the time has come. They have followed the scientific criteria. That they need to begin accepting U.S. product. So we will be watching that very closely." The USDA says it's taking steps immediately to resume the import of Canadian cattle under 30 months of age. I'm Bob Hoff.
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