Vilsack Speaks Out in Support of Imported Brazilian Beef

Earlier this week when addressing a National Farmers Union event in Washington D.C., USDA Secretary Vilsack had a response to concerns about a proposal to allow Brazilian beef into the U.S.

Vilsack: "You know it is really irritating to me — to be honest with you — when folks come into my office and say, 'Open up that market. Get that beef into that country. Do what you have to do. But — oh by the way — don't let anything come into our market.' I can't make the case in any other country to open up their market unless I can show a willingness to do it — if it is safe, if it is appropriate all those caveats."

Both countries have agreed to allow access to the other's beef and beef products. The agreement allows U.S. beef into Brazil for the first time since 2003. And Brazilian beef will soon be exporting fresh and frozen beef to the United States.

Brazil's Minerva S.A. announced that they have received authorization to export fresh beef to the United States from their two plants. The authorization of Brazilian plants is the remaining step in the process for trade to begin between the two countries.

The Brazilian government expects fresh beef exports to the US to total  $900 million per year.

Since last year, USDA has eliminated BSE-related restrictions in 16 countries, regaining market access for U.S. beef and pumping hundreds-of-millions of dollars into the American economy.