In a clear sign that China is getting increasingly bold in its response to an ongoing trade dispute with the U.S., Chinese authorities Friday slapped preliminary import duties of as much as 105.4% on U.S. chicken products.
The Ministry of Commerce which announced the decision said U.S dumping is hurting China's domestic poultry industry. Once the new directive takes effect Feb. 13, U.S. exporters, including Pilgrim's Pride Corp. and Tyson Foods Inc., will be required to deposit the duty with Chinese customs, pending a final decision on the matter.
The ministry listed 35 companies, most of which will have to pay a duty of 64.5%. Pilgrim's Pride will have to pay the highest duty among named companies, of 80.5%, while Tyson Foods will pay the least, at 43.1%. All other U.S. firms not named in the list will pay 105.4%, the ministry said. The affected companies have 20 days to appeal the decision.
While China imports less than $800 million worth of U.S chicken products a year -- just a small portion of the total $77 billion in products imported from the U.S. and $1.01 trillion in overall imports last year—the move suggests Beijing has become more forceful in responding to trade disputes as governments around the world seek to revive their economies, sidelining earlier pledges to avoid protectionist measures.
• Continue reading • Comments (3)
User Comments
Putin sets stage for poultry trade talks
20.01.10Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said U.S. poultry producers need to comply with Russian processing standards or risk losing Russia's business.
Putin issued his warning in advance of bilateral talks concerning U.S. poultry exports to Russia, scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Russia has been cutting poultry import quotas in recent years, but last year passed an effective ban on U.S. poultry by setting a limit on how much chlorine can be used in processing, RIA Novosti reported.
• Continue reading • Comments (1)
User Comments
Tyson Damages Capped at $5 Million + Fees
20.01.10US - A federal judge signed off on a preliminary settlement of a class action charging Tyson Foods with falsely advertising that its chickens are raised without antibiotics. Tyson agreed to pay up to $50 to anyone who bought poultry that was labeled antibiotic-free. Payments will be capped at $5 million and do not include $3 million in attorneys fees.
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett, in Baltimore, granted preliminary approval for the settlement on Friday.
The plaintiffs say that since June 2007, in response to public demand for healthier, natural foods, Tyson embarked on a campaign to promote, label, and sell its chicken products as "raised without antibiotics" or "raised without antibiotics that impact antibiotic resistance in humans."
• Continue reading • Comments (2)
User Comments
High investments in Peru’s poultry sector
18.01.10Peru's agricultural sector weathered the tough conditions in 2009 better than those of many of its Latin American neighbors, including that of the poultry sector, reports Companies and Markets.
In December, agriculture minister Adolfo de Cordova said Peru's agricultural GDP was expected to grow by 2.5% year-on-year in 2009. Considering the poor world economic conditions and the poor weather that hit agricultural production across much of South America, the turnout could have been a lot worse.
• Continue reading • Comments (5)
User Comments
Feds: No new violations at New Square poultry plant
14.01.10USA - Two federal agents drove to the Hasidic Jewish community Wednesday and inspected the village's closed poultry slaughterhouse after some opponents claimed the facility was butchering chickens against a federal judge's closure order.
The judge ordered the plant shut down in late December, citing a public risk due to unsanitary conditions and the chickens were not being inspected before going to market. Operators want to build a larger slaughterhouse in the same area off Route 45.
On Wednesday, the plant remained closed and inspectors with the U.S. Department of Agriculture didn't find any violations of the federal court order closing down the facility.
The plant accepted frozen processed chickens for storage, authorities said.
The USDA inspectors did not issue the operator any violation notices. The inspectors confirmed there were no problems or violations but referred all comments to the agency in Washington.
Deputy village Mayor Israel Spitzer said the operators and village cooperated with the inspectors after false information was disseminated.
• Continue reading • Comments (0)
User Comments