WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the first time since 1992, U.S. pork will be exported to Argentina after the Trump administration and Argentina President Mauricio Macri agreed to terms that eventually lifted the 25-year ban, which was imposed due to animal health concerns at the time.

 

“Today’s announcement (August 17) is a big win for American pork producers and proves that President Trump is getting real results for America’s farmers and ranchers,” said Vice President Mike Pence.

“After 25 years of discussions, America’s pork producers will soon be able to export their fine product to Argentina.”

The trade agreement came on the heels of the Aug. 15 meeting between him and Macri during Pence’s visit to Buenos Aires. Trump first raised the issue with Macri during their April 27 bilateral meeting at the White House.

Moreover, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer were also fully engaged in completing the agreement. “This is one more example of the commitment of President Trump and his entire administration to breaking down international trade barriers, and making free and fair trade a win-win for American workers, farmers and our trading partners,” Pence said.

As the world’s top pork exporter, the United States’ agreement with Argentina opens a potential $10 million annual market for America’s pork producers. In fact, in 2016, exports added $50 to every U.S. hog marketed, which represented 36 percent of the $140 average value of a hog, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

In addition, U.S. pork producers exported nearly $6 billion in goods last year.

“Trade-dependent U.S. pork producers now have unfettered access to this large pork-consuming nation,” said NPPC President Ken Maschoff. “U.S. pork producers are the most competitive in the world, and we have long sought the opportunity to provide affordable, high-quality pork in Argentina.”

Under the terms of the trade agreement, all fresh, chilled and frozen pork and related products from U.S. animals will be eligible for export to Argentina, which was, until recently, among several countries with non-science-based barriers to U.S. pork imports. 

 

Dave Miller, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation director of research and commodity services, said while this is a small portion of total U.S. pork trade, it represents a good step forward in opening up markets for U.S. products that have been closed for many years.

“Argentina has more than 41 million people and (they) currently consume about 19 pounds of pork per capita per year,” he said. “This compares to about 50 pounds per capita pork consumption in the United States. Opening up Argentina to U.S. pork imports has the potential to significantly increase their pork consumption as they potentially could replace some of their beef consumption with pork consumption. 

 

"Pork is significantly less expensive than beef, and Argentina is one of the world’s largest consumers of beef on a per capita basis, consuming nearly 90 pounds per year.”

White House officials said Argentine food safety officials are slated to visit the United States to conduct on-site verification of the U.S. meat inspection system, after which U.S. pork exports will resume, pending resolution of any outstanding technical issues. To date, the NPPC said the United States remains focused on expanding trade of other agricultural products between it and Argentina, notably beef, poultry and fruits.

“We thank secretaries Perdue and Ross, and their teams at the USDA and the Department of Commerce, as well as U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer and his team, for their diligent work to win Argentine market access,” Maschoff said.

“We also thank Vice President Pence for his efforts to move a trade agreement that promises significant U.S. economic benefits, over the finish line.”