WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), with nine of their Senate colleagues, wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Tuesday to urge them to make removing barriers to chicken exports a priority in the negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The TPP is a trade agreement currently being negotiated by Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam

“The TPP represents a significant opportunity to expand U.S. chicken exports and bring increased economic benefits to chicken growers and companies across the country,” the senators wrote.  

“We are particularly concerned about Canada’s supply management program that severely limits U.S. chicken exports to our northern neighbor. As you know, despite ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada has continued to impose restrictions on imports of U.S. chicken products and the U.S. has been unsuccessful in lifting those restrictions. We urge you to continue to work to address this long-standing, unjustified issue during the TPP negotiations and create true free trade for U.S. poultry. 

“Similarly, we are concerned about Australia and New Zealand’s use of non-scientific barriers related to poultry disease that prohibit trade of U.S. chicken products to these countries. If Australia and New Zealand are to participate in the TPP, they should conform to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards.

“Finally, Japan’s administrative guidance sets an unofficial quota on U.S. chicken products. Japan is a significant potential market for U.S. chicken products and a truly open trade agreement would create substantial opportunity for growth.”

Senators Coons and Isakson lead the bipartisan Senate Chicken Caucus. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

The Senate Chicken Caucus will host regular meetings, briefings, and other events to educate members and staff about chicken industry perspectives on timely issues, including food safety, international trade, labor, immigration, and the environment. 

The text of the letter is below. A PDF can be downloaded here: http://1.usa.gov/L6GWwA

January 14, 2013

Ambassador Michael Froman
United State Trade Representative?
Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20508 

The Honorable Thomas Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC  20250

Dear Ambassador Froman and Secretary Vilsack:

We write to express our concern regarding trade restrictions on U.S. chicken products by several countries participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and to urge you to consider them and do everything you can to provide for open markets and fair trade of U.S. chicken products. The TPP represents a significant opportunity to expand U.S. chicken exports and bring increased economic benefits to chicken growers and companies across the country. We are encouraged by the progress you have made during the latest round of trade talks. Your ongoing commitment to seek the highest possible standard agreement is appreciated.

As you know, the U.S. chicken industry is a major economic driver in communities across the country. The industry supports over 1 million jobs and generates over $200 billion in annual economic impact. Nearly 20% of broiler chickens and products produced in the U.S. are exported, representing a significant portion of total sales, and a critical part of the success of the industry. There is incredible potential to grow the level of exports from the U.S, and addressing these barriers to U.S. chicken products during the TPP negotiations is critical to making that potential a reality.

We are particularly concerned about Canada’s supply management program that severely limits U.S. chicken exports to our northern neighbor. As you know, despite ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada has continued to impose restrictions on imports of U.S. chicken products and the U.S. has been unsuccessful in lifting those restrictions. We urge you to continue to work to address this long-standing, unjustified issue during the TPP negotiations and create true free trade for U.S. poultry.

Similarly, we are concerned about Australia and New Zealand’s use of non-scientific barriers related to poultry disease that prohibit trade of U.S. chicken products to these countries. If Australia and New Zealand are to participate in the TPP, they should conform to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards.

Finally, Japan’s administrative guidance sets an unofficial quota on U.S. chicken products. Japan is a significant potential market for U.S. chicken products and a truly open trade agreement would create substantial opportunity for growth.

Thank you again for your ongoing commitment to moving the TPP negotiations forward. We urge you to continue to fully engage the other eleven participating countries on these priority issues for U.S. chicken producers. We look forward to working with you on these issues going forward.

Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.)
U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.)
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.)
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)
U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.)
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga)?
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.)