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Klobuchar Statement on Reopening of Chinese Market to U.S. Pork

May 14, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement in response to action by China to reopen the Chinese market to U.S. pork exports:  

“I’m pleased that China has finally acknowledged that U.S. pork products are completely safe and has moved to reopen its markets.  This clears the way for pork producers in Minnesota and across America to increase their exports and boost their sales.”

In February, Senator Klobuchar led a group of 22 senators in writing to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Trade Representative Ron Kirk, urging them to ensure that China follows through on commitments to reopen its markets to American pork exports. 

Since the discovery of the H1N1 virus, domestic hog farmers have suffered from decreased international demand, despite the fact there is no known link between eating pork products and acquiring the virus. U.S. producers faced increased trade barriers as China and other countries used the H1N1 virus as an excuse to bar American pork products, thereby boosting their domestic pork industries.

Prior to H1N1 trade constraints, U.S. pork and pork variety meats exported to China accounted for nearly 20 percent of total U.S. pork exports and were valued at nearly $275 million in 2008. China was the United States’ seventh largest market, accounting for six percent of U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports.   

Nationwide, the U.S. pork industry supports 35,000 full-time or equivalent jobs, 515,000 indirect jobs and generates $34.5 billion of gross national product for the U.S. economy. Minnesota is the nation’s third-largest pork producer, with 2,500 farms and more than 20,000 jobs in hog production and pork processing.

Klobuchar is a member of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition Committee, and chairs the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion.

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