WWFE REPORT: Call for Fair Meat Trade
US - The prospect for growth in international trade in US meat is being hit by a series of significant obstacles, writes TheCattleSite senior editor, Chris Harris.
29 October 2009
1 minute read
A statement from the American Meat Institute issued at the Worldwide Food Expo in Chicago this week stated that US meat exports are being unfairly hit by non-scientifically based barriers to international trade.
He AMI said that the barriers are now becoming the norm rather than the exception.
The industry organisation added that the US trade is also being hit as other countries ignore the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) guidelines for trade in animals and meat.
The AMI added that countries lack harmonised trade policies and are producing different standards and specifications for virtually every country with which the US trades.
"Fair and free trade is essential for future market expansion and continued prosperity for America's meat and poultry sector," the AMI statement said.
"The US government should work to expand access to growing international trade markets for Americans high-quality beef and pork.
"To ensure free and fair trade, policies between countries should be based on sound science and should comply with OIE guidelines.
"Governments should work to harmonise their trade policies to increase global food trade and facilitate development."
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