Statement Of the American Meat Institute On U.S. District Court Denial of AMI Motion for Preliminary Injunction

(Attribute Statement to AMI Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel, Mark Dopp)

"We are extremely disappointed that our motion for a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of a May 2003 ban on imports of Canadian cattle has been denied. We have not yet seen the full opinion and are eager to analyze the court’s reasoning in issuing this denial.

The U.S. meat industry continues to believe as strongly as ever that full trade in beef and cattle products with Canada is justified by both the science and world animal health guidelines set by the OIE.

This ruling and other anti-trade developments this week have been a blow to free trade and to the principles that have made an industry strong and competitive in international markets. The events this week may well increase Canadian resolve to grow and protect a vital national interest and to do whatever is necessary to become a major competitor to the U.S. The U.S. has historically consumed almost 50 percent of Canada's production and more than 90 percent of their exports. Canada will never let that happen again -- and we will suffer because of it.

The fact that our long term ally may now become a rival and could move into our former export markets is salt in the wounds of the U.S. beef industry, which is suffering terribly from this protected, unnecessary and protectionist trade barrier. But we will not let this -- or any other development -- weaken our resolve to work for science-based and internationally harmonized trade policies."

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