Tester Statement on Deal for Montana Beef Exports to the European Union

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement on the announcement of a deal to open up the European Union (E.U.) to more U.S. beef exports:

“Montana produces some of the finest beef in the world. This deal allows ranchers to sell even more of their high-quality beef in the global marketplace—which will boost production, create jobs, and make it easier to make a living ranching here in Montana. We should always be working to expand markets, not contract them, so all Montana producers can continue to thrive.”

President Trump announced today that the U.S. will now be able to export more beef into the E.U. without paying duties. American ranchers will be able to export more beef annually, phasing up to 35,000 tons of beef in seven years, effectively doubling the current export rate of roughly 16,500 tons a year.

Tester has fought hard to expand access to foreign markets for Montana producers while defending against unfair international trade practices. After Tester testified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on behalf of Montana timber producers, the WTO upheld U.S. sanctions on Canada’s unfair trade policy regarding softwood lumber last month. Tester also helped lift China’s ban on American beef back in 2017 and successfully secured a ban on Brazilian beef imports following reports that Brazil was exporting rotten beef treated with cancer-causing acid products.