In Pursuit of Market Access
JBS President Wesley Batista encourages industry stakeholders to work with administration to improve market access.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (Jan. 28, 2010) — Declining beef demand and market access are top of mind for JBS President and CEO Wesley Batista, who spoke Jan. 28 at the 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas. Batista was part of a panel charged with addressing the future of the cattle industry.
"We must have market access. Beef is an assembly industry. We buy cattle and then sell lots of parts in lots of different markets. We need to have access to sell the right parts in the right markets," Batista said.
Batista said it is a shame that our markets are still restricted, especially since the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) incident was seven years ago. He said the U.S. should approach closed markets individually, negotiating with each country on a case-by-case basis. “Each country has different sensitivities, so we should customize our negotiations.”
Batista said international trade is best rebuilt on a free-market basis, noting “we don't need the government involved in all things. Things are often much better without them.” However, he recognized that would be highly unlikely to occur and instead encouraged cattle industry stakeholders to remain in close contact with their elected officials.
“We need to work with the new administration to improve our market access,” Batista said. “Talk with your senators and congressmen; tell them how important this market access is to the future of our industry.”
Batista also shared that JBS has recently created a new partnership with the cow-calf producers who supply beef to its packinghouses. A select group will be invited quarterly to meet with JBS to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in the beef industry.
“We already know where our issues are," Batista said. "We just need to come together to talk about them. We do have a lot of opportunities in the beef industry, and we are committed to working with all of you to improve.”
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