releases: https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=92a88a2d-669d-4acd-a8b7-8ff767d631ed
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=92a88a2d-669d-4acd-a8b7-8ff767d631ed | Portman, Brown Join Bipartisan Effort to Address Barriers to U.S. Pork Exports | 2013-12-16 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OH | Rob Portman | P000449 | www.portman.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. – On Friday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) joined a group of 31 Senators in writing a letter to United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Michael Froman, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the importance of addressing barriers to market access for American pork producers in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The letter was led by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana). Portman and Brown noted the importance of exports to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole, writing, “U.S. pork production supports an estimated 550,000 domestic jobs, around 110,000 of which are the direct result of exports. Pork exports now make an annual surplus contribution of nearly $5 billion to the overall U.S. trade balance.” Pork exports are vital to Ohio jobs. In fact, according to the National Pork Producers Council, Ohio is among the top 10 states in pork production and stands to benefit greatly from increased access to foreign consumers. Currently, there are numerous market access barriers for U.S. pork in countries participating in the TPP, such as Japan’s complex system of tariffs. These barriers limit the contributions U.S. pork exports can make to the U.S. economy. The Senators emphasized that tariff and non-tariff barriers on pork must be addressed through TPP negotiations. A signed copy of the letter is available here. Full text of the letter is below. Dear Ambassador Froman and Secretary Vilsack: We write to emphasize the importance of addressing market access barriers to U.S. pork exports in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). We know that you are both well aware how important exports are to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole. U.S. pork production supports an estimated 550,000 domestic jobs, around 110,000 of which are the direct result of exports. Pork exports now make an annual surplus contribution of nearly $5 billion to the overall U.S. trade balance. Around the world, however, numerous market access barriers exist that prevent pork exports from contributing even more to the domestic economy. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation presents an important opportunity to open new markets to U.S. pork in the Asia-Pacific region, to expand several existing markets, and to establish a standard for all future trade agreements involving pork. The participants in the TPP negotiations represent significant markets for increased U.S. pork exports with the successful removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers. Currently, U.S. pork producers encounter highly restrictive trade barriers that slow the growth of U.S. exports into a number of TPP participant countries. Japan, for example, maintains a complex system of tariffs that reduces the price and quality advantages of U.S. pork. Vietnam, in addition to burdensome administrative requirements, continues a reference price scheme on imported pork that raises the cost to import certain pork cuts above the market price. Furthermore, despite an existing bilateral trade agreement, Australia still uses non-tariff barriers to limit U.S. exports to either processed pork or frozen, boneless pork for further processing. It is estimated that if tariffs and all non-tariff barriers are eliminated in each TPP nation, U.S. pork exports will grow by over 50 percent within 10 years of implementation. We strongly urge you to insist that all tariffs and non-tariff barriers on pork in TPP partner nations be eliminated as part of the TPP agreement. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |