MSGA Statement on Senator Baucus’ Efforts in U.S.-Korea Beef Negotiations

MSGA Statement on Senator Baucus’ Efforts in U.S.-Korea Beef Negotiations

The following is a statement from Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) Executive Vice President, Errol Rice, on Senator Baucus’ efforts in the U.S.-Korea beef negotiations this week:

“MSGA would like to commend Senator Max Baucus for his efforts this week to ensure more access for U.S. and Montana beef into South Korea’s marketplace as a condition to ratifying a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

MSGA’s mission is to protect and enhance Montana ranch families’ ability to grow and deliver safe, healthy and environmentally wholesome beef to the world. While Montana’s family ranchers are pleased with the recovery in beef exports to Korea that has occurred under the U.S.-Korea beef agreement since the market re-opened in the summer of 2008, we are confident that the high quality and safety of our beef deserves more recognition by many trading partners, including South Korea.

We greatly appreciate Senator Baucus’ efforts on this important and time-sensitive agreement. Finding some resolve to the current restrictions on certain U.S. beef products in Korea is vitally important to Montana’s economy. We urge U.S. and South Korean officials to reach an agreement to not only safeguard current market access for beef but also commit to a process to allow further access of U.S. beef products, consistent with international standards, in the future.”