Contact Victoria Broehm
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) shares in the disappointment with many others throughout the agriculture community on the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) announcement yesterday to impose an additional tariff of 10 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, effective Sept. 24, 2018.
U.S. animal food manufacturers use many different types of ingredients in animal feed and pet food and depend on imports of some ingredients that have limited domestic availability. In addition, the variety of ingredients produced globally gives them more choices on where to source their ingredients. The United States’ imposition of tariffs on Chinese products has already negatively affected the U.S. animal food industry by restricting access to these Chinese products. This escalating trade war continues to hinder the U.S. feed industry’s future in maintaining and increasing market opportunities and access in China.
Gina Tumbarello, AFIA’s director of international policy and trade, stated:
“AFIA and its members value free and fair global trade and mutual respect between trading partners. Increasing tariffs on Chinese products restricts the flow of commerce, stifles fair and open competition and leads to retaliatory measures that can further harm the animal food industry. China is an important market with even greater potential, but the administration’s actions are not aiding the U.S. animal food industry in securing market access, but rather, further hindering it.We encourage our trade officials to seek discussions with China to remedy concerns rather than continuing to resort to tariffs.”