USDA to Appeal Ruling to Stop Border Reopening

[Willowcreek]

Willowcreek we have gone through the soft wood lumber issue and now BSE, even after we negotiated a NAFTA agreement in good faith years ago. The border staying closed, in my opinion has nothing to do with BSE, with the exception of a few greedy ranchers in Montana that want to continue to receive the high prices they have over the past year and a half.
In other areas of the US, placking plants are closing due to a shortage of slaughter cattle, so obviously the Montana ranchers don't give a damn about their fellow producers in their own country.
I can't help but wonder what would have happened if our Prime Minister would have kept his mouth shut about the missile issue until after the court hearing in Montana.

[farmers_son]

This information from Cattlenet sheds some light on the timelines we may be looking at. Everything I have seen indicates that the USDA ruling would be upheld in the courts and the R-Calf lawsuit would fail, it is just a matter of how the case winds it way through the U.S. Court system.

See:http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=4129

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Cebull issued an injunction to prevent the resumption of cattle imports from Canada. The injunction was being requested in connection with a lawsuit filed by R-CALF against USDA over the new minimal-risk region rule, under which imports were to resume on Monday, March 7. Both parties to the lawsuit have 10 days to agree to a date for scheduling a trial. Most observers expect an appeal by USDA before any schedule for a trial is set. How quickly that appeal would be heard is hard to say. Likewise, it is anybody's guess as to how the appeals court would be likely to rule on the issue. If an appeal is successful, the injunction will be lifted, cattle imports will resume, and the trial on the issue of the minimal-risk region rule will be heard in the higher court at some later date. If the appeal is not successful, the injunction will remain in place, and the trial will take place in the federal district court in Montana*probably beginning sometime this summer.

[greybeard]

It sounds to me like the judge basically has his own agenda. Maybe a tad bit protectionist. As farmers son says, what is this judge doing MAKING trade policy.
As far as R-Calf members agreeing to negotiate, give me a break. Do you believe if we hade COOL, Leo will say "keep your money boys, we’re done now”.

[farmers_son]

Emerald1: Re what would have happened if Martin had not commented on the missile issue.

My read on the situation is that the outcome of the last few days was known to both sides before Martin made public any comments on Canada's participation in the US missile defense plan.

It seems to me that that the Bush administration is not doing a very good job of running the country and does not have control of the domestic and international agenda in the United States. Bush's bungling of the US economy was widely known before the last election and it looks like it has not improved. There is no one steering the ship in the U.S. as evidenced by a mid level trial judge overturning U.S international policy.

Based on Martin's previous cautious support of missile defence, if the two events (Martins remarks on missile defense and the R-Calf injunction/Senate vote) are connected in any way it is more likely to me that Martin pulled the plug on missile defense out of frustration with what he saw coming with live cattle, not forgetting the other many trade irritants including softwood lumber, rather than the other way around.

Just my opinion, but I am convinced that our government saw this coming weeks ago.

[kato]

I agree about the missle defense. People are saying the border isn't opening because we didn't sign on, but it's really the other way around.

In this case, I think we have an opportunity to take a page from the American books. Learn the game. The way the government runs down there is "I'll do something for you, but you need to do something for me." "I'll vote for your bill, if you vote for mine"

We've finally found something that GW really wants, and it's the closest thing to leverage we've had in years. Leverage is what gets things done in America. It's what they understand.

Sad but true.

[rkaiser]

Does anybody really believe Mr. Dithers is that smart? I would have to say great if he is, but hesitantly.

greybeard hit oldtimers excuse right on the nose. This backpeddling COOL arguement is as lame as the old guy himself. If COOL was implemented, this greedy, assbackwards, fear of the future, RCULT gang would not have held back. I really do not beleive that they will succeed unless GW has more of an agenda and uses them as a scapegoat again. Yes oldtimer, scapegoat. Distraction for the media, whatever you want to call it. You're wasting your money supporting RCULT because when the US government sees fit, your victories will turn around and your burial will be deep.

This one single Judge with a hard on for RCalf stopped things granted, posturing was obviously not yet complete. Everyone that would have known Cebull would be the Judge would have know the outcome. Any points made about his integrity or consideration of rules is pure garbage.