With a new presidential administration set to take over leadership this month, what new opportunities might be available for red meat exports? Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President of Economic Analysis, says there are two areas of interest.
First, the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be reviewed in 2026 and Borror says we need to maintain tariff-free trade with the two key trading partners with little barriers. Secondly, she sees potential with the United Kingdom as there were free trade agreement attempts with the previous Trump administration.
“The UK is the only major importer of which the U.S. has basically no market share, and it’s a one-way street with trade,” Borror explains. “We actually lost access through Brexit. We lost our duty-free access because the high-quality beef quota stayed with Europe.”
Borror sees nothing but opportunities for U.S. red meat exports to the UK.
“We have basically no access into the UK for U.S. beef, and that’s a $2 billion market, of which we’re essentially out of,” she says.
She adds there is tremendous potential on the pork side as well, noting the UK imports 630,000 tons of pork a year, about $2.8 billion, but U.S. pork is hardly there.
“We just need reciprocal access,” she says. “We need no tariffs, no quotas. The UK benefits from practically unfettered access into the U.S., and we need the same into the UK.”
Borror remains hopeful for the coming year.
“The UK could be one of those markets where there should see further opportunities for U.S. agriculture, and certainly for U.S. red meat,” she says.
Your next read: Mexican Border is Expected to Open for Feeder Cattle Week of Jan. 20, Sources Say
