July 23, 2010

Brazil may approach WTO over EU poultry tariffs

Brazil would request the opening of a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel against the EU should negotiations to remove EU's protectionist measures against Brazilian poultry exports fail.

Brazil is currently able to export 350,000 tonnes of poultry to the EU at a reduced tariff rate. Anything above this is charged an additional tariff, bringing the price for Brazilian exports close to that for locally-produced fresh chicken.

Francisco Turra, president of the Brazilian poultry association (Ubabef) is calling for a new rate to be established that falls between the higher and lower rates.