U.S., Colombia enhance beef trade

The United States and Colombia reached agreement this week to reduce certain certification requirements on U.S. beef products entering the South American country.    The United States and Colombia reached agreement this week to reduce certain certification requirements on U.S. beef products entering the South American country.
   U.S. trade negotiators believe the agreement will further increase exports of U.S. beef and beef products, which have grown substantially since the May 2012 entry into force of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA).
   “Just a few years ago there was little if any American beef in Colombia but through the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, and agreement’s like this, we are seeing increased demand for high-quality American beef,” U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement. “This action also underscores the constructive working relationship that USTR and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have with our Colombian counterparts, a relationship that has been enhanced through the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.”
   Through an exchange of letters, the United States and Colombia have agreed to changes in certification statements that will allow beef products from all federally inspected U.S. establishments to be eligible for export to Colombia, rather than only those from establishments that participated in the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Export Verification (EV) programs under the previous certification requirements, USDA explained. 
   According to USTR, U.S. exports of beef and beef products to Colombia reached $14.4 million in 2014, up more than 260 percent from the $4 million posted in pre-CTPA 2011.
   The U.S. beef industry has clawed its way back internationally since the discovery of a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or “mad cow” disease, in December 2003, which closed nearly all overseas markets to this product. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and USDA have spent the years since working with major import countries to restore their confidence in U.S. beef. The World Organization for Animal Health has given the U.S. beef supply chain a negligible risk classification for BSE.