With the NAFTA renegotiations starting this week, officials with the U.S. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) were in Calgary for the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, showing their support for the relationship between the two countries. Representatives from both the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and NCBA plan on heading to Washington for the anticipating beginning of the agriculture chapter talks on the weekend.
Beef is not in the crosshairs of Canada, Mexico, or the United States, but there is some nervousness regardless of where the arrows are pointed.
Kelvin had a chance to catch up with Colin Woodall, NCBA’s vice president of government affairs, and asked him the following questions on the NAFTA trade talks.
- How does NCBA feel heading into this weekends meetings and do you feel confident in the Trump administration?
- Do you support the CCA request to simplify inspections of Canadian beef headed south at the border?
- What does a government relations person like yourself do during these talks? Do you hangout in the lobby or are you in the room?
- How do you see the seven rounds progressing? Will we need seven rounds to close these talks?
- Do you agree that Canada has friends in Congress that will support keeping NAFTA intact?
- How would a NAFTA withdrawal by the U.S. impact the North American beef value chain?
- Attending this week’s CBIC meeting in Calgary, what is your impression?
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