Cattle Industry Celebrating New Year Beef Export Opportunities

WASHINGTON, DC – As many were ringing in the new year last week, the cattle industry was celebrating expanded market access to Japan and the European Union (EU). The new deal with Japan immediately lowered the tariff on U.S. beef from 38.5 percent to 26.6 percent, and will eventually drop to 9 percent. This will keep American beef at the same tariff rate as other countries that export under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). As for the EU, the new deal establishes a duty-free quota for U.S. non-hormone treated cattle. The annual quota will increase from 18,500 metric tons this year to 35,000 metric tons in 2026. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative estimates that this quota will increase annual U.S. beef sales in Europe from $150 million to $420 million.