Cattlemen Testify to the Importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association testified on what it called the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to the U.S. International Trade Commission Thursday. Kevin Kester, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Policy Division Chair, testified before the ITC, stressing the importance of TPP for the cattle industry. Kester said with a growing middle class overseas demanding a higher quality diet, “we need strong trade agreements like TPP.” The trade agreement, according to NCBA, offers increased access to the Japanese market for cattle producers.

In 2014, the U.S. exported beef worth $1.6 billion into Japan at a 38.5 percent tariff. Once TPP is implemented that tariff rate will phase down to 9 percent over 15 years, with a significant cut in the first year.

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