US pork industry stresses importance of trade deals

A drastic revision may negatively affect pork exports, the United States National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has pointed out at various moments in May and June.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) is an agreement that has been existing between Canada, the US and Mexico, since 1994. The US pork industry has been benefiting enormously from this deal, with Mexico and Canada particularly being number 2 and number 4 trade partners for exporting US pork.

0% tax for pork exports

In mid-June, the organisation commented on negotiating objectives regarding the modernisation of the treaty. Although not denying that modernisation of the treaty is needed, the US pork industry has been emphasising the importance of Nafta and has been stressing at various occasions that the 0% tax tariffs for pork should stay the way they are.

In the document, the NPPC repeated earlier information from a white paper, launched in May this year. Quoting the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the NPPC said that between 1994 and 2016, pork exports grew by 1,561%. Similarly, pork exports to Mexico grew by 670% since Nafta was launched.

Trade deal on sugar

The NPPC also applauded a recent sugar deal with Mexico – and hopes similar results could be achieved for pork.

Trade agreements in general are important for the US swine industry. The NPPC also encourages the achievement of trade agreements with Japan, countries around the Pacific, China and other regions.