Farmscape for August 29, 2019

The National Pork Producers Council says the latest increase in Chinese tariffs on U.S. pork will further limit the ability of American pork producers to take advantage of the opportunities created by declining Chinese pork production.
In response to the latest increase in U.S. tariffs on imported products from China, China has further heightened import tariffs on U.S. products.
Maria Zieba, the Director of International Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council, says, American pork producers are already having a difficult time exporting into China and China's imposition of a 72 percent tariff on U.S. pork, compared to 12 percent charged on pork from competing nations, is significant.

Clip-Maria Zieba-National Pork Producers Council:
We need to have a deal as quickly as possible with the Chinese that really eliminates all of these retaliatory tariffs and addresses those issues that we've had that limit our exports.
That's what we're really asking for.
We understand that this is a bigger issue that affects the rest of the U.S. economy but paying a 72 percent tariff in the long run will hurt our industry and now that they've been really affected by African Swine Fever.
China is the largest pork producer and consumer of pork in the world.
They've been ravaged by African Swine Fever.
There's a tremendous opportunity for U.S. pork but unfortunately, because of that high tariff, that opportunity is going to our competitors and not us.

The Chinese swine herd is estimated to have declined by a third over the past year as the result of African Swine Fever driving Chinese pork prices to record levels.
NPPC continues to urge the Trump administration to end the trade dispute with China.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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