Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 8/18/17


The White House announced that the United States and Argentina have agreed to terms that will allow U.S. pork to enter the Argentine market for the first time since 1992.

Under the agreement, all fresh, chilled and frozen pork and pork products from U.S. animals will be eligible for export to Argentina.

Argentina has blocked imports of U.S. pork since 1992, citing animal health concerns.

Argentine food safety officials will visit the United States to conduct on-site verification of the U.S. meat inspection system, after which U.S. pork exports will resume pending resolution of any outstanding technical issues.

The agreement follows the Aug. 15 meeting between Vice President Mike Pence and President Mauricio Macri of Argentina during Pence’s visit to Buenos Aires.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) said exports added $50 -- or 36 percent -- of the $140 average value of a hog to every U.S. hog marketed in 2016.

“With today’s White House announcement, trade-dependent U.S. pork producers now have unfettered access to this large pork-consuming nation,” NPPC said in a statement. The group urged the Trump administration to negotiate market access in other countries, such as India and Thailand, that remain closed to U.S. pork.

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