South Africa to resume imports of U.S. bone-in chicken meat, “initially 65,000 tonnes a year, under an agreement reach by the two countries,” said Reuters. The agreement would turn the United States into one of the top suppliers to Africa’s most advanced economy, said the wire service, and smooth renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, now pending in Congress. South Africa’s trade minister said the agreement was “within the tolerance of the [poultry] industry and is something we can all live with,” said Reuters. South Africa imposes tariffs of 100 percent on chicken products that exceed a government-set level. Domestic producers have struggled to meet rising demand for chicken meat.
The two nations “also agreed to a firm set of actions this month to resolve the remaining sanitary issues related to poultry, pork, and beef,” said the U.S. trade representative’s office. “The framework provides for the return of exports to South Africa of U.S. bone-in chicken after the two governments complete necessary implementation steps. The South African government will implement the framework following a public consultation process.”
The USTR also announced the reallocation of 157,937 tonnes of tariff-rate quotas among importing nations because some of them are unable to meet the quota allotments that were set months ago. Brazil got the largest increase, 37,978 tonnes, and Australia was next with 21,739 tonnes.