Far too many countries refuse to import American beef because it is considered unsafe...
From Reuters:
Russia set to halt imports of U.S. beef, pork
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8B611420121207
from the article:
"Ractopamine is used as a feed additive to make meat leaner, but countries such as China have banned its use despite scientific evidence that it is safe. The United Nations has agreed on acceptable levels of the drug.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation told its members by email that since the U.S. Department of Agriculture had no testing and certification program in place for ractopamine, the Russian requirement could effectively halt U.S. pork and beef exports to the country by Saturday."
... and then there is "Mad Cow" disease to which the USDA tells us: "Don't Worry. Be Happy!" But the Europeans say: "We're not going to eat it!"