Source: MEATINGPLACE, 4/17/15

South African chicken producers hope to reach an agreement soon with U.S. counterparts in a dispute over anti-dumping duties imposed on the United States in 2000, the head of South Africa’s poultry group told Bloomberg.

The two countries are discussing the amount of chicken products that can be exported from the United States. South Africa could lose out on preferential access to the U.S. market through the African Growth and Opportunity Act if an agreement isn’t reached.

Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, told Meatingplace that a deal is not imminent, and the United States is waiting to see South Africa’s offer for a compete agreement.

“Our access volume numbers are still quite far apart,” Sumner said in an email.

South Africa initiated the tariffs in 2000 to combat what they called “illegally low” prices of American chicken.

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