WASHINGTON — The Meat Institute submitted a response to US Trade Representative (USTR) Jameison Greer after the office requested information on unfair trade practices and non-reciprocal trade arrangements.

The trade association called for access to new markets for meat and poultry products and removal of non-tariff barriers.

“The Meat Institute welcomes the opportunity to work with the Trump administration to reassert US leadership to advance US meat, poultry, food and agriculture trade in a manner that revitalizes our farm communities and supports broad-based economic growth,” said Julie Anna Potts, president and chief executive officer of the Meat Institute. “The Trump administration has a unique opportunity to once again demonstrate American leadership in the global trade environment for the benefit of American workers and the US economy. Policies, like those put forth in the America First Trade Policy Agenda, that seek to open markets and reduce trade barriers enable domestic companies, especially small- and medium-sized US meat and poultry packers and processors, to more effectively plan production, make sourcing decisions, and establish export processes.”

Areas that the Meat Institute highlighted in its comments to the USTR included China’s stance on the existing terms of the US-China Phase One Agreement and China’s retaliatory tariffs on meat exports that look to constrain growth in that market.

China announced this week that there would be 15% tariffs on chicken, wheat and corn, and 10% on soybeans, pork, beef and fruit following President Trump’s decision for an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese goods.

The Meat Institute later noted that there were still regulations impeding US beef and pork exports to Taiwan.

“Despite this and other progress made, US beef exporters must continue to participate in a USDA AMS Export Verification Program to send product to Taiwan, which limits the commercial potential for US beef exports destined for the Taiwanese market,” the trade association said in its comments.

Bringing more trade options to the table in the Southeast Asian market including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam remain important for market diversification.

In other regions of the world, the Meat Institute continues to look at removing restrictions on beef and address emerging concerns to fully implement the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).

Another continued project for US meat exporters is breaking through its limited access to the markets of the European Union and United Kingdom.

“Regulatory impediments imposed by the EU and continued by the UK following its departure from the EU, show little sign of abating,” the Meat Institute said. “Prioritizing agricultural concerns through decisive actions in those markets is vital for the meat and poultry industry’s export potential to both the UK and the EU.”

The full comments sent to the USTR are available here.