China agriculture group warns on US broiler meat imports surge 

China Animal Agriculture Association has appealed to the country's Ministry of Commerce, claiming the large imports of US broiler meat and their comparatively lower prices have disrupted the Chinese poultry market, reported the China Daily Wednesday (Sep 2).

The association, which represents 20 large-scale broiler meat companies whose annual output accounts for more than 50 percent of China's total, is worried about losing its market share to the US.

The Chinese government is considering whether to introduce trade remedy measures against imports of broiler meat from the US, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper added that if enacted, the proposal will be the first trade remedy deal that China has launched in the agriculture industry and will lead to a sharp decline in US broiler exports.

It comes at a critical time with China and the US embroiled in a row over possible tariffs imposed on some Chinese made tires. The United States Trade Representative is expected to submit the final proposal on the issue to American President Barack Obama on Thursday (Sep 3) while he will make the final decision in 15 days' time. China is likely to take retaliatory measures if Obama agrees to the tariffs.

The US is the largest broiler producer globally, followed by Brazil and China, and the country is also the largest exporter to China. In 2008, the US sold 584,300 tonnes of broiler meat to the Chinese market, accounting for 20 percent of its exports.

From 2006 to 2008, US broiler imports accounted for 68, 66 and 73 percent of the total Chinese broiler imports. During the first half of this year, the figure rose to 89 percent.

In 2008, China's broiler meat was priced at an average of RMB10,482 (US$1,535) per tonne while the US-imported broiler was RMB659 lower to settle at RMB9,823 per tonne over the same period.

US$1=RMB6.830 (Sep 2)