(35 sec.) The vast majority …… extremely well.

And there is increasing interest within the EU for U.S. product. According to Ali …

 (19 sec.) We’ve certainly …… American steak.

Unfortunately, we can’t meet the growing demand at the moment. Ali explains …

 (23 sec.) We are really …… even Canada.

Getting a plant ready and approved by both USDA and the EU is a process that takes 45 days or longer. So, at the moment, U.S. companies aren’t necessarily rushing to start that process, because, Ali says … 

 (12 sec.) The market …… meat trade.

Adding to this volatility is the fact that most bans, including the U.S. ban of EU meat, are for two weeks or less. Should the EU demonstrate it has FMD under control, bans could be “regionalized,” which could allow unaffected countries to re-enter international trade. Meanwhile, USMEF is working with customers around the world, which have banned the import of EU beef and pork, to build the relationships that will lead to increased U.S. trade long-term.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

-- USMEF --

“Bonus” Actualities:

Richard Ali is based in London, but has responsibility for overseeing USMEF operations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Russia. This story was based on an interview with Mr. Ali late Friday (London time), shortly after his return from a week in Russia to assess the situation there. Our interview covered a number of subjects and the following actualities are from that interview:

In Great Britain, the number of cases of foot-and-mouth disease was expected to top 800 by the end of the weekend. Despite drastic measures to control the disease, including the planned slaughter of more than 800,000 head of livestock, Richard Ali , USMEF’s European director based in London, tells...

  (21 sec.) Foot and mouth …… against the disease.

New cases were reported on Friday in the Netherlands and additional cases were suspected in Germany, which until now was FMD-free.

Russia this week banned the import of all meat and livestock products from the EU. This action came after more than a month of access to EU beef, mostly from Germany, at depressed prices … sometimes as low as 45 cents per pound. Richard Ali, USMEF Director Europe, Russia and the Middle East, is based in London but has just returned from a week in Russia. Ali says the mood is one of wait-and-see …

  (19 sec.) The Russian …… will happen.

Russia was expected to lift its ban on German meat as early as this weekend … but that was before suspected cases of FMD were discovered in western Germany Friday. As a result, Ali notes, the international meat market remains extremely volatile.

Might there be long-term benefit to the U.S. from foot-and-mouth disease and other animal health problems in Europe. We asked Richard Ali, Director Europe, Russia and the Middle East, based in London, for his view …

 (19 sec.) After the foot …… supplier.

Trade access issues continue to be the biggest barrier to U.S. trade in the EU.

In 2000, total U.S. beef exports grew by 10 percent in volume to more than 1.2 million metric tons, while value grew 11 percent to $3.57 billion. Pork exports grew 12 percent in volume to more than 566,000 metric tons, while value grew 18 percent to $1.3 billion. Exports now account for nearly 13 percent of U.S. beef production and more than 8 percent of U.S. pork production on a wholesale weight basis.

Broadcasters, please note: Richard Ali will keynote USMEF’s Board of Directors meeting in New Orleans, May 23-25. For more information and to register, go to http://www.usmef.org/meetings/2000conference.cfm. Registration for working media is free.