U.S. pork producers don?t seem optimistic about a potential trade deal with the European Union (EU) coming together anytime soon. Nick Giordano is the Vice President of Global Government Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council. Giordano says that he?s ?very skeptical? that the two sides will even reach a mini agreement in the weeks ahead. He feels the real goal should be a comprehensive trade pact covering all sectors of agriculture. ?It?s outrageous that a market of that size, with that level of income, is so closed to us,? Giordano says. ?They?re stealing jobs from us because of their protectionism and that?s unacceptable.? The VP says there will be widespread support in the U.S. agriculture community for the Trump Administration to take tough action against the EU if there are no concessions regarding a more open EU market.
Meantime, U.S. cattlemen might annually sell $4 billion worth of beef to China within the next five years. Kent Baucus, Senior Director of International Affairs with the National Cattlemen?s Beef Association, says the Phase One trade deal and the meat shortage in China cause by African Swine Fever should drive U.S. beef exports higher. ?We haven?t even scratched the surface on the Chinese market,? he says. ?There is a tremendous amount of unmet protein demand in China.
