July 14, 2006

 

NPPC wants US to normalise trade relations with Vietnam

 

 

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) on Thursday (Jul 13) urged the US Congress to grant permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to Vietnam so as to let US pork producers increase exports to the country.

 

72 percent of the meat consumed in Vietnam is pork, which makes it a very attractive market, the NPPC said.  

 

PNTR would allow US exporters to make full use of Vietnam's entry to the World Trade Organization.

 

US and Vietnam finalised an agreement on market access in May, which facilitated the Asian country's bid to join the WTO.

 

Vietnam has implemented WTO rules on sanitary measures and has agreed to recognise the US inspection system for pork as equivalent to its inspection system.

 

NPPC expressed its strong support for Vietnam's bid for WTO membership and said Congressional approval of PNTR status for Vietnam is necessary for the country's entry into WTO,

 

NPPC's Jon Caspers, a pork producer from Iowa said past trade agreements have benefited US pork exports greatly and Vietnam would be a prime market for US pork variety meats.

 

According to estimates, Vietnam's entry into the WTO would increase its US pork variety meat imports from US$3 million in 2004 to US$16.5 million by 2012.

 

This meant an increase of 4.4 percent in producer profits.

 

Vietnam is expected to join the WTO before the November meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.