Sec. 3402. Sense of Congress and report on Argentine beef imports
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It is the sense of Congress as follows: Congress finds that United States ranchers and cattle producers produce the healthiest and highest quality beef on the planet. Any official trade agreement between the United States and Argentina—including the United States of America—Argentine Republic Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment—that allow Argentina to export ship fresh and frozen beef into the United States market under expanded quotas is detrimental to domestic ranchers, cattle producers, and cattle markets.
Congress recognizes that many Americans enjoy eating beef and recognizes that many Americans want their beef raised domestically. Congress further concludes that any agreement to allow increased beef from Argentina into United States markets introduces unfair competition into an already volatile market as this imported beef could depress cattle prices at United States sale barns and have a ripple effect throughout the domestic economy affecting feed suppliers, equipment dealers, veterinarians, and other rural businesses.
Congress additionally concludes that United States beef production is the safest in the world and that inconsistent enforcement abroad could put American consumers at risk and create an uneven regulatory playing field. Not later than 180 days after the date on which the United States signs any formal trade agreement with Argentina that includes a change to the tariff rate quotas or other duties on fresh and frozen beef imported from Argentina the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the effect of such imported beef on domestic beef and cattle markets, including— American consumer sentiment about the quality of beef in the United States; impacts on domestic cattle prices; effects on domestic beef prices; changes to the domestic cattle herd size; and rancher sentiments toward expanding their herds.
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.