If South Africa fails to make a concerted effort to eliminate barriers to poultry, pork and beef imports, it could lose agricultural trade benefits with the United States, reports The Hill newspaper. The administration issued a 60-day warning of the potential cut-off. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said he was hopeful Pretoria “will meet the mutually agreed benchmarks relating to eliminating barriers to U.S. poultry, pork and beef.”
“The United States and South Africa reached a deal in June that would eliminate the 100 percent tariff on poultry put into place 15 years ago that has almost completely blocked U.S chicken exports,” said The Hill. “South Africa failed to meet a key deadline on Oct. 15 that was supposed to lead to the resumption of U.S. poultry exports.”
The National Chicken Council, a trade group, said the warning was “a clear message to South Africa” to act. “It makes no sense for the United States to give special preferences to countries that treat our trade unfairly.”