Baucus Applauds UAE’s Decision to Lift Restrictions on U.S. Beef

MEMORANDUM

To: Reporters and Editors
From: The Communications Office of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
RE: Baucus Applauds UAE’s Decision to Lift Restrictions on U.S. Beef

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today applauded the decision made by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to lift its restrictions on American beef exports.  Baucus led the effort to push UAE to lift its unscientific restrictions on U.S. beef.  Despite the World Organization for Animal Health’s declaration that U.S. beef from cattle of all ages is safe, UAE previously banned imports of U.S. beef older than 30 months.  From Chairman Baucus:

“Unfounded, unscientific restrictions on beef hurt hardworking ranchers in Montana and across the U.S. and create an unlevel playing field for U.S. beef.  Simply put, American beef is 100 percent safe and the best in the world, and there is no reason for it to be banned on scientific grounds.  The UAE’s decision to recognize sound science and lift its ban on U.S. beef means millions of dollars in new export opportunities for our ranchers.”

Baucus has long fought for a robust trade agenda that opens new markets to American ranchers, farmers and small businesses and ensures U.S beef is not subjected to scientifically unfounded barriers in UAE or anywhere else in the world.  In December 2011, Baucus wrote a letter to UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba to press the UAE to remove unscientific restrictions to U.S. beef and provide access to beef of all ages.  Prior to the UAE placing the unfound restrictions on U.S. beef in 2009, the UAE was our second largest market in the region for beef exports, with exports growing annually by an average of 55 percent.

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