Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 10/23/13


After subjecting pork imports from the United States and other countries to "safeguard" investigations since May, Chile has decided not to take action to limit pork imports.

Under international trade rules, safeguard measures are temporary emergency actions, such as duty increases, against imported products that have caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the importing country’s own industry, explains a release from the National Pork Producers Council. The Chilean Pork Producers Association had alleged that pork imports caused losses to its producers and requested a 14.3 percent added duty on pork imports.

The National Pork Producers Council had said that the concerns were unfounded and pointed out that although Chilean pork producers account for more than 95 percent of domestic consumption, they also have significantly increased their sales in export markets.

A Chilean commission examined the issue for 90 days, and determined that measures to safeguard the domestic industry were unwarranted.

Chile is the 12th-most valuable export destination for U.S. pork products, totaling almost 17,000 metric tons valued at more than $42 million, NPPC reports.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.