18 September 2007

2 minute read

Asia

The investigation, Global Beef Trade: Effects of Animal Health, Sanitary, Food Safety, and Other Measures on U.S. Beef Exports, was requested by the U.S. Senate's Committee on Finance in a letter received on August 7, 2007.

In its request letter, the Committee noted that the future sustainability of the U.S. beef industry is highly dependent on access to global markets, and that currently, restrictions on U.S. beef exports related to concerns over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), especially by Japan and South Korea, have hurt the U.S. industry.

As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide an overview of the U.S. and global markets for beef and information on animal health, sanitary, and food safety measures facing U.S. and other major beef exporters in major destination markets. The Commission also will provide information on other barriers to U.S. beef exports in major destination markets, including high tariffs, quotas, and import licensing and distribution systems, and an analysis of the economic effects of these measures on U.S. beef exports.

The ITC will submit its report to the Committee by June 6, 2008.

The ITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation at 9:30 a.m. on November 15, 2007. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, and must be received no later than 5:15 p.m. on October 18, 2007.

The ITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions (one original and 14 copies) should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, at the above address and should be filed at the earliest practical date, but no later than 5:15 p.m. on February 29, 2008. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

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