CHINA's
12-year block on US beef exports has left president of the US Meat Export Federation, Philip
Seng, warning that the United States is rapidly falling
behind its competitors. The ban followed the discovery of a cow with bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as mad cow
disease, in the US in 2003.
"For
several years thereafter, China was not a large importer of beef. But that
changed dramatically in 2012, when beef import demand in China surged due to
strong economic growth and a sharp decline in domestic production," Mr
Seng was cited as stating in a release from the federation.
"China
now imports more beef every month than it did in an entire calendar year in
2011. In the first half of this year, imports totaled nearly US$910 million, up
28 per cent from a year ago."
"While
the US industry remains on the sidelines, Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand, Argentina and
Canada
are all gaining a strong foothold in China. Being shut out of the
Chinese market also affects the prices US beef cuts command in other Asian
destinations, as China has begun to exert significant influence on global beef
trade," he said.
"For the
US beef industry, the lost opportunity due to our lack of access to China is
currently estimated at more than $100 per head," he added.
While not
totally cut off, US pork has suffered similar setbacks in China due to the
industry's use of ractopamine, a feed additive that promotes leanness in
animals raised for their meat.
"Similar
to the beef complex, China has no lack of suitors who want a piece of its
imported pork market. In addition to the EU, Canada and Chile compete
aggressively in China, and Mexican pork is a recent entrant into the
market."
Source :
HKSG.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar