1.   The previous month a British television programme had alleged that Goodman International had indulged in widespread abuse of the EC subsidy system for beef exports.

2.   They warn that the Botswana could face a consumer boycott of its beef exports if the decision to go ahead with the fence is not dropped.

3.   American beef exports are used mainly for table cuts.

4.   And beef exports are expected to grow.

5.   A scare that foot-and-mouth disease may have returned to Argentina has cut deeply into beef exports.

6.   But some industry executives worried that Argentina could see a decline in its beef exports to Europe if concern over the deadly disease caused overall beef consumption to drop.

7.   Ending the ban would boost U.S. beef exports and expand markets for meat-packers.

8.   Even so, U.S. meat industry executives are worried that such reports could damage the U.S. beef export.

9.   Last month, Sola met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman to discuss the fresh beef exports and said he expected everything to be in place by May.

10.   Meanwhile, an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease in Argentina prompted the announcement last week of a temporary halt in beef exports to the United States.