Colombia LIfts Ban on US Beef Imports

The Colombian Government has lifted its ban on US beef originating from states in which H5N1 was detected in dairy cows. US Meat Export Federation, President and CEO, Dan Halstrom.

“In April of 24, we started experiencing some access challenges related to the h5 and one issue, and we were up to 13 states that were not allowed to export to Columbia. So, so what, what has happened is that, you know, we were averaging about $3 million a month in exports, and once we got once we got through April and into these restrictions, we’re down to less than a million dollars a month. So obviously, a very adverse impact there.”

Halstrom notes, there is still work that needs to be done to restore the US market share in Colombia. 

“The US isn’t the only one that’s figured out the value of these exports around the world, and in the case of Colombia, you know, we were running at a clip of $3 million a month of exports. And then post April, when we had these restrictions, were down to less than a million dollars per month in other markets, competitors such as Canada took advantage of that.”

USMEF is crediting USDA and the US Trade Representative’s Office in their negotiations for Columbia reopening its borders to US beef imports.