Utah Cattle Ranchers Fight To Challenge Import Practices

Some Utah and Idaho cattle ranchers are signing petitions in support of a multi-state legal action against Canada and Mexico, charging the countries with illegal and unfair trade practices. A group of concerned ranchers called R-CALF (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Foundation) recently filed a petition with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce seeking an investigation and stricter enforcement of the NAFTA trade agreement. Ranchers charge that the two countries are dumping cattle into the US (at below production costs), which is harming the U.S. cattle industry.

During a briefing by R-CALF members, Commissioner Peterson voiced his support for efforts to level the beef export-import playing field between U.S. and foreign countries.

Posted 29 Oct, 1998