WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) and U.S. Representative John Carney (D-Del.) applauded American and South African negotiators who reached an agreement to end South Africa’s tariffs on U.S. poultry over the weekend.
In Delaware, the poultry industry supports 13,000 jobs. American poultry products are expected to enter the South African market before the end of 2015. The negotiations were led by the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Department of State, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard, and trade experts from industry.
“This is great news for farmers across America and especially in Delaware, where we have 300 chickens for every person in our state,” Senator Carper said. “Unfortunately our poultry farmers in the First State, who create more than $4.6 billion in economic activity each year, face trade barriers in countries all over the world. In South Africa – the largest potential poultry market on the African continent – unfair trade practices have kept our chicken farmers out of that market to this point. Thanks to the good work of our negotiators and the persistence of some of my colleagues, like Sens. Coons and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), it looks we’re going to change that and open the South African market to our farmers. I will continue to work on tearing down barriers like these all over the world so Delaware chickens, and all kinds of other products made in our state and across our country, can be sold around the world.”
“American poultry farmers, especially those in Delaware, should be able to compete on a level playing field in markets around the world, but for too long, that hasn’t been the case in South Africa,” said Senator Coons. “This is a significant win for Delaware’s poultry farmers and an important day for American agriculture.”
“Expanding our ability to export chicken is crucial to the continued success of Delaware farmers,” said Rep. Carney. “I’m happy to hear we have come to this agreement with South Africa, and I hope the South African government will continue to move forward on implementation as soon as possible.”
Senators Coons and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have pressured the South African government for nearly a year to end the tariffs. Most recently, the Senators secured language in the reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) requiring the USTR to conduct reviews of South Africa’s trade practices, specifically anti-dumping duties on U.S. poultry. Senators Isakson and Coons are the co-chairs of the Senate Chicken Caucus.