SA, US to meet over poultry trade dispute

Johannesburg - South African and US poultry producers will meet this week in an effort to reach an agreement over American chicken exports.

The countries have been at loggerheads on whether South Africa should lift the 2 000 anti-dumping duties imposed on the US.

It may lose out on preferential access to the US for poultry through the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, if an agreement isn’t reached.

“What we are in the process of offering is a reasonable offer,” Kevin Lovell, the chief executive officer of the South African Poultry Association, said by phone on Tuesday from the UK Concessions “will need to be based on an understanding of what the Americans used to export to us.”

In 2000, the International Trade Administration Commission requested imposing provisional duties on US frozen whole chickens, frozen bone-in chicken cuts such as drumsticks, leg quarters, breasts and thighs going to South Africa. Taxes were at 27% and R2.20 a kilogram then.

South Africa offered to raise the annual tonnage allowed free of anti-dumping duties by 50% for the US, Johannesburg-based Business Day newspaper reported March 11.

It was rejected by American producers at a meeting in Washington.

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