France seeks reintroduction of pork export subsidies

France will call for the reintroduction of pork export subsidies at next week's meeting of the European agricultural council.

Having seen a reduction in its national pig herd and in annual pork production, it is now seeing a fall in exports too, down 16 percent in January to February. Projected fall in the French pig herd this year is 1.6 percent, but this figure is optimistic.

France's call for export subsidies will likely be supported by Italy, where producers have significant debts after four years of losses and are now struggling to get loans extended as banks become more cautious about lending.