U.S. Reopens Beef Market to Argentina

Argentina will resume beef exports to the United States after the latter lifted a ban imposed in August for fear of the foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina.

The export quota will remain the same as in the past at 20,000 tons on an annual basis, said Argentine Agriculture Minister Antonio Berhongaray after meeting with his U.S. counterpart Dan Glickman on Friday. He added that Canada will also lift its ban on Argentine beef next week.

However, the U.S. still refuses to import beef from an area in northern Argentina bordering Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, he said.

Argentina exports some 500,000 tons of beef annually, accounting for 5 percent of the country's total exports. But the ban is estimated to have caused a loss of 75 million U.S. dollars.






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