South Africa has signed an agreement with the US to resume imports of 65000 tons of chicken a year‚ which had become bogged down by health concerns‚ the government said yesterday.
The veterinary trade protocol comes after the US threatened to suspend trade benefits for South African farm products earlier this month‚ in retaliation against the clampdown on poultry imports.
SA has been concerned that an outbreak of avian flu in the United States‚ which killed nearly 50 million birds‚ could pose animal and human health risks to Africa’s most advanced economy.
“We are on track to resolving the outstanding issues related to beef and pork. The chicken protocol shows we are moving in the right direction‚” SA’s Department of Trade and Industry spokesman Sidwell Medupe said, adding that outstanding issues would be finalised by December 31.
The pact the two countries signed is part of the African Growth and Opportunity Act‚ a US programme designed to help African exporters. — Reuters
SA finalises chicken import deal with US
The veterinary trade protocol comes after the US threatened to suspend trade benefits for South African farm products earlier this month‚ in retaliation against the clampdown on poultry imports.
SA has been concerned that an outbreak of avian flu in the United States‚ which killed nearly 50 million birds‚ could pose animal and human health risks to Africa’s most advanced economy.
“We are on track to resolving the outstanding issues related to beef and pork. The chicken protocol shows we are moving in the right direction‚” SA’s Department of Trade and Industry spokesman Sidwell Medupe said, adding that outstanding issues would be finalised by December 31.
The pact the two countries signed is part of the African Growth and Opportunity Act‚ a US programme designed to help African exporters. — Reuters
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