November 23, 2005

Chilean beef, lamb and pork to enter US market

Chilean beef, lamb and pork will now have direct access to the US market, the US Food Safety Inspection Service announced. The decision became effective on Nov 21 after three years of negotiations.

The US imported US$2.6 billion worth of beef in 2003, including one million tonnes of prepared and preserved meat, according to Chilean officials. The per capita consumption of beef in the US has also remained relatively stable in the last few years with an accumulated annual growth of 1.3 percent between 1991 and 2003.

The free trade agreement earlier made between Chile and US stipulates that by January 2007, Chilean beef will have full access-free of tariffs and quotas-to the US market.