In this week’s National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) recap, significant legislative and trade advancements were made, impacting the pork industry. Key highlights include the House Agriculture Committee’s approval of the 2024 Farm Bill, efforts to address California’s Proposition 12, and calls to lift South Africa’s pork import restrictions.
House Agriculture Committee Approves 2024 Farm Bill
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved the 2024 Farm Bill, incorporating all NPPC priorities. The bill addresses California’s Proposition 12, preventing states from imposing their own livestock production standards on producers in other states. It also doubles funding for USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program and allocates funds to protect the nation’s food supply from foreign animal diseases.
Efforts Against California’s Proposition 12
A broad coalition, led by NPPC and the American Farm Bureau Federation, supported a Congressional fix for California’s Proposition 12. The coalition emphasized that Prop. 12 creates a patchwork of state laws, harming small- and medium-sized farms, and could prompt other countries to impose similar restrictions on U.S. exports. The House Agriculture Committee included this fix in the 2024 Farm Bill.
USTR Urged to Press South Africa on Pork Import Restrictions
Members of Congress, urged by NPPC, called on the Biden administration to pressure South Africa to lift non-scientific pork import restrictions. These restrictions limit imports of U.S. pork due to concerns such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), despite no scientific evidence supporting transmission through imported pork. NPPC supports the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) but insists that beneficiary countries like South Africa provide equitable treatment for U.S. imports.
NPPC’s Participation in WITA Panel on 301 Tariffs
Maria C. Zieba, NPPC’s Vice President of Government Affairs, participated in a Washington International Trade Association (WITA) panel on the Biden administration’s review of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. The discussion highlighted the tariffs’ impacts on the U.S. economy and trade relations, with the administration deciding to continue and expand some tariffs.
Why It Matters
These developments are crucial for pork producers as they navigate regulatory and market challenges. The 2024 Farm Bill supports agricultural programs and export promotion, addressing issues like Proposition 12 ensures market access, and efforts to lift South Africa’s import restrictions could open significant markets for U.S. pork.
For more detailed updates, visit the NPPC website and stay tuned for next week’s developments.
