The trade body’s executive committee approved its top 2020 Policy Priorities at the annual Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
Trade was one of the main priorities for the group however after the government secured bilateral trade deals with Japan, China, and the European Union, as well as the ratification of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the NCBA’s focus this year will turn to implementing those deals, while still expanding access in those markets, as well as newly changed markets like the post-Brexit United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, following the securing of proper regulatory oversight of ‘fake meat’ by the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, in 2020 the NCBA hopes to build on that successful regulatory framework while also advancing bipartisan legislative efforts like the Real MEAT Act in the US House and Senate to end what it sees as deceptive labeling of plant-based fake meat.
“America’s cattle producers have made tremendous and historic progress on the policy front over the past year,” said NCBA President Jennifer Houston. “Now it’s time to implement and defend those gains and to keep pushing for policies that will help improve conditions for cattle producers so they can better provide the nation and the world with delicious and nutritious US beef.”
This year’s priorities include climate policy. The NCBA plans to “continue to push back against misguided climate policies while advancing the U.S. cattle industry’s tremendous environmental record, upholding the U.S. cattle industry as the global model for sustainable beef production.”
Cattle markets
In 2020, the NCBA also plans to prioritize the importance of cattle markets — specifically promoting “policy that creates markets free from unfair practices and manipulation both in the fundamental markets and the cattle futures markets”.
It will also aggressively pursue final rules on key regulatory issues and defend victories on issues like the Waters of the US (WOTUS)/Navigable Waters Protection Rule, 2020 Dietary Guidelines, Endangered Species Act modernization, Electronic Logging Devices, and comprehensive NEPA reform.