NCBA urges US to act on Brazil beef
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) raised fresh concerns about Brazil’s trade practices during a recent Section 301 investigation hearing, overseen by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. NCBA’s testimony focused on Brazil’s restrictions on U.S. beef, its history of weak food safety oversight, and delayed reporting of animal health issues.
Kent Bacus, NCBA’s Executive Director of Government Affairs, said the association fully supports President Trump’s move to apply tariffs of up to 76% on Brazilian goods.
“NCBA is extremely supportive of President Trump holding Brazil accountable by levying upwards of 76% tariffs on Brazilian goods headed to the U.S. market. This is a good first step, but the administration must continue to hold Brazil accountable for its trade barriers on U.S. beef and its lack of transparency and accountability,” said Bacus. “NCBA urges the Trump administration to suspend beef imports from Brazil until a thorough audit and inspection process proves that Brazil can meet an equivalent level of food safety and animal health.”
In the past five years, Brazil has sold more than $4.45 billion worth of beef to U.S. consumers while denying meaningful market access for American beef through technical trade barriers. NCBA highlighted that Brazil has repeatedly delayed reporting serious animal health cases, including atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), sometimes waiting months or even years before disclosure. Such delays raised doubts about the country’s reliability in ensuring safe food supplies.
Bacus explained that NCBA has been warning about these issues since 2017, when it first called out Brazil’s failures. He added that Brazil’s delays in reporting BSE cases in 2021 and 2023 further underline the risks. “NCBA was the first to raise alarms over the Brazilian government’s food safety issues in 2017 and its delays in reporting atypical BSE cases in 2021 and 2023. The United States holds all trading partners to the highest science-based standards, and Brazil should not be the exception,” said Bacus.
NCBA is pushing for stronger enforcement of trade standards, ensuring U.S. cattle producers are not disadvantaged by unsafe imports and discriminatory trade barriers.