China will re-open market for U.S. pork

AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today applauded the news that Texas pork producers will soon regain access to an important international trade market. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that China intends to re-open its market to U.S. pork and live swine.

“I am relieved to see sound science has finally prevailed over political science in re-establishing the trade of pork and live swine with China,” Commissioner Staples said. “The United States produces the safest food supply in the world, and there is no reason international consumers should not enjoy top quality U.S. products. I look forward to continuing our efforts with world leaders to make this a global trend. China is an important trading partner for Texas, and I appreciate Ambassador Kirk and Secretary Vilsack for their leadership on this issue.”

In 2008, China was the U.S. pork industry’s fastestgrowing market, accounting for $560 million in U.S. exports. In May, after the H1N1 outbreak in North America, the Chinese government shut down all U.S. pork imports.

The World Organization for Animal Health, World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization, have all repeatedly reported that properly cooked pork products are safe to eat and that humans cannot contract the H1N1 virus through pork consumption.

Commissioner Staples is committed to expanding trade opportunities for Lone Star State producers. In recent years, he helped reopen the Mexican market to U.S. live cattle exports and led a trade delegation to Cuba that resulted in several international trade partnerships and contracts. Commissioner Staples also sponsored a resolution by the Tri-National Agriculture Accord to properly identify the current H1N1 flu and stop unjustified trade barriers.