{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=96cb7318-d231-4115-862a-5e8696ea01bb", "Senators Isakson, Coons Urge South African President to Drop Ban on U.S. Poultry or Risk Losing Favored Trade Status", "2014-12-10", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Johnny Isakson", "I000055", "www.isakson.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Chris Coons, D-Del., cautioned South African President Jacob Zuma that continued refusal to eliminate unfair duties on U.S. poultry could jeopardize South Africa\u2019s continued eligibility for trade benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, also referred to as AGOA.\r\nThe Senators delivered their message via a letter sent Tuesday night. Congress will consider reauthorization of AGOA in 2015.\r\n\u201cThe antidumping duties South Africa has levied on U.S. poultry have been in place for fourteen years, effectively blocking our companies from accessing your market,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe understand that our trade officials recently discussed the ongoing negotiations regarding poultry, as well as other market access issues for other U.S. exports to South Africa. We strongly encourage you to pursue solutions expeditiously that guarantee market access for U.S. poultry.\u201d\r\nThe United States has worked directly with the government of South Africa for years in an attempt to remove the duties levied on U.S. poultry. In 2013, the World Trade Organization ruled against an almost identical system of duties imposed on American chicken by China, deeming it a violation of global trade rules.\r\n\u201cAs you know, Congress is in the process of considering reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe urge you to ensure that conversations continue to make progress towards eliminating the antidumping duties on U.S. poultry and that this issue is resolved before Congress takes up AGOA reauthorization, which could be early next year. We will need to reconsider the extension of duty preferences under AGOA for South Africa if this situation is not resolved.\u201d\r\nThe African Growth and Opportunity Act has served as the cornerstone of the U.S. commercial relationship with Africa since its enactment in 2000, successfully expanding U.S. trade with African countries that show a commitment to good governance and democratic principles. It has improved the trade environment both for U.S. and African businesses, and has spurred significant economic growth.\r\nSenator Isakson is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which will have jurisdiction over the AGOA reauthorization bill. The two co-founded the bipartisan Senate Chicken Caucus in 2013. Senator Coons chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, and Isakson is a former ranking Republican of that subcommittee.\r\nThe letter is available as a PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/1ukD1eQ.\r\nThe full text is below:\r\n\u00a0\r\nDecember 9, 2014\r\nPresident Jacob Zuma  Private Bag X1000  Pretoria, South Africa 0001\u00a0\r\nDear Mr. President:\r\nThank you for your participation in the African Leaders Summit in August in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 It was an honor to have you and your delegation here to share your experiences and discuss issues and opportunities for both of our nations.\r\nOne issue that is of great importance to both of us and our states is that of poultry trade.\u00a0 We have been closely following developments in regards to poultry trade with South Africa, and were pleased to hear of the meeting between the U.S. and South African poultry industries on September 17th.\u00a0 Furthermore, we were pleased to see news articles in the press here and in South Africa reporting that the South African poultry industry is prepared to make concessions to open their market.\r\nThe antidumping duties South Africa has levied on U.S. poultry have been in place for fourteen years, effectively blocking our companies from accessing your market.\u00a0 As the Chair of the African Affairs Subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Ranking Member of the International Trade Subcommittee on the Senate Finance Committee, we are committed to broadening and sustaining the U.S.\u2013South Africa relationship, and to resolving this poultry trade situation by the elimination of the antidumping duties.\u00a0 We believe there is great opportunity for the U.S. to further investment in the South African poultry industry, as well as build partnerships between our poultry industries and universities in ways that can be beneficial for all involved.\r\nWe understand that our trade officials recently discussed the ongoing negotiations regarding poultry, as well as other market access issues for other U.S. exports to South Africa.\u00a0 We strongly encourage you to pursue solutions expeditiously that guarantee market access for U.S. poultry.\u00a0 As you know, Congress is in the process of considering reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).\u00a0 We urge you to ensure that conversations continue to make progress towards eliminating the antidumping duties on U.S. poultry and that this issue is resolved before Congress takes up AGOA reauthorization, which could be early next year.\u00a0 We will need to reconsider the extension of duty preferences under AGOA for South Africa if this situation is not resolved.\r\nWe look forward to continuing to work with you to address this important issue.\r\nSincerely,  Christopher A. Coons  Johnny Isakson  United States Senators\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=96cb7318-d231-4115-862a-5e8696ea01bb"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0556140914559364, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}