November 5, 2007

US aims to crack EU pork market

The US is hoping to crack open EU's 20-million-tonne pork market in the recently revived Doha Round of WTO talks to be held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Given the huge market for pork in the EU, only 20,000 tonnes of US pork were imported into the EU yearly, according to NPPC President Jill Appell

Appell, who is leading a delegation to the talks, said EU officials are aware that a deal can only be concluded by granting the US greater access to EU market for pork.

The NPPC's request for greater market access to the EU and Japanese markets has come at a time when the Doha Round of WTO talks, which began in 2001 was recently revived.

The NPPC has been calling for greater new market access into the EU and Japan for US pork exports in return for pork producer support of the Doha negotiations.

The NPCC, besides urging the EU to lower tariffs and other trade barriers, also called on Japan, another large pork consumer market, to do so.

Although Japan is the top export market for US pork, the US is barely making an impact, according to NPPC CEP Neil Dierks.