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More federal lawmakers raise Smithfield/Shuanghui questions
Story Date: 6/25/2013
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Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 6/24/13
Additional lawmakers on both sides of Congress are raising questions about the proposed $4.7-billion acquisition of Smithfield Foods Inc. by a major Chinese processing firm.
Several members of the U.S. House of Representatives are calling for additional scrutiny in the deal with Shuanghui International based on possible issues of food safety as a national security concern. Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), whose district includes the Virginia-based pork processor, sent a letter to President Obama suggesting that any investigation of the proposed purchase should include food safety concerns and an assessment of food supply implications.
Those sentiments were echoed late last week by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), who also cited food safety as an important issue in a letter to President Obama. His letter was cosigned by Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio).
Meanwhile, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the head of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and recently confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman reminding them of import restrictions China continues to place on U.S. meat when considering the Smithfield deal, bans they demanded be rescinded. Baucus and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) also cited food safety concerns, which also were on the minds of 15 of the 20 members of the Senate Agricultural Committee late last week.
In a statement, Smithfield said it does not consider the proposed combination a threat to national security and it welcomes working with the Obama administration and Congress in reviewing the purchase, which will be part of an effort conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
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