The Senate on Thursday passed a bill reversing the rule of the administration of President Joe Biden allowing beef imports from Paraguay, which has a history of cattle-borne diseases. 

Senate Voted Against the Move of Joe Biden Allowing Potentially Diseased Paraguay's Beef Into US

According to Fox News, the Senate approved the Congressional Review Act resolution in a vote of 70-25, rendering it. Introduced by Democratic Senator Jon Tester and Republican Senator Mike Rounds, the bipartisan resolution gained broad support from cattle and farm industry groups. 

In introducing the bipartisan resolution in February, the two senators argued that the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) actions could have negative consequences on the US food supply.

After the bill was passed, Tester said in a statement: "President Biden butchered this decision. By cutting corners to resume beef imports from a country with a recent history of foot-and-mouth disease, the Biden Administration is jeopardizing our food supply and giving Montana consumers and producers a raw deal."

"We cannot allow beef imports from Paraguay until we have data that shows they are meeting the same high animal health standards as American ranchers, and I'm proud to have secured bipartisan support in the Senate to force the Biden administration to reverse course," he added.

On the other hand, Rounds emphasized the "high standards" upheld by the US beef industry.

"We have very high standards regarding the quality of our beef. Unfortunately, Paraguay does not have the same history of enforcing health and safety standards that we do. Our inspectors haven't been to Paraguay in ten years," he noted.

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Reaction of the Joe Biden Administration to the Senate's Move to Block Paraguayan Beef Imports

The Biden administration announced last November that they were lifting a ban on beef imports from Paraguay following assurances from Paraguayan officials regarding their compliance with US safety standards.

However, lawmakers and US industry groups criticized this move, which was implemented a month later, as Paraguay's livestock industry reportedly has a history of foot-and-mouth disease, which spreads quickly among livestock. 

The White House has issued a statement saying it "strongly opposes" the Senate's effort to overturn the administration's policy. It noted that overturning the administration's rule would "mark a significant setback in the United States-Paraguay bilateral relationship and U.S. credibility as a reliable economic partner across Latin America."

"This resolution would amplify the false narratives pushed by our adversaries that the United States is not a reliable economic partner," it added.

The White House also said the administration's rule would have minimal effect on domestic beef production and that the USDA had determined that Paraguayan imports were low risk.

According to the Nebraska Examiner, foot-and-mouth disease is a virus that affects animals with split hooves, including common livestock like cows, pigs, and sheep. Paraguay reported an outbreak in 2012, while the US last reported a case in 1929.

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