October 3, 2023

Ex-NPPC president highlights importance of Generalized Systems of Preferences for US' pork trade to India

The US pork industry is gearing up to commence pork shipments to India, following significant efforts to reform the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme that facilitated market access nearly two years ago.

Randy Spronk, former president of the United States' National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), addressed the US Congress on behalf of the organisation, advocating for GSP programme reform. The programme provides non-reciprocal, duty-free treatment for goods exported to the US from beneficiary developing countries. This programme had expired on December 31, 2020.

Spronk highlighted that the NPPC supports the GSP programme due to its potential to bolster developing countries' economies and purchasing power, as well as its role as a vital trade enforcement tool. Notably, GSP played a pivotal role in gaining market access for US pork in India, an agreement reached in January 2022.

India had previously banned US pork based on what the NPPC termed "scientifically unjustified" concerns related to ruminant feeding and trichinosis.

"Ultimately, the US government used the threat of revoking GSP benefits as leverage and successfully resolved the numerous issues," Spronk stated in his prepared testimony. He further mentioned: "At present, the US pork industry is actively working on its inaugural shipment of US pork to India."

The United States Department of Agriculture has estimated that US pork exports to India could potentially amount to between US$750,000 and US$1 million.

- Swineweb