WTO Members Debate A-H1N1 Influenza Restrictions
WTO Members Debate A-H1N1 Influenza Restrictions
Trade restrictions imposed in response to the A-H1N1 influenza outbreak are falling under increased scrutiny this week in Geneva. Washington Trade Daily reports that at a two-day meeting of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee, some WTO members have complained that these restrictions represent unnecessary and unjustified barriers to trade.
Pork-exporting countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, the European Union, Brazil, Paraguay, Australia and the Dominican Republic all argued that import bans on live pigs and pork products are not scientifically justified for dealing with A-H1N1 influenza. They praised countries that had based their responses on science and criticized those that had imposed trade restrictions, saying the restrictions have no scientific justification. They also noted that in many cases, proper notification of these restrictions has not been made with the WTO.
But countries imposing the restrictions argued they had to act quickly to deal with an emergency. Some of the countries with restrictions – Ukraine, Indonesia, China and Jordan – said the measures were temporary and either had been lifted or would be lifted when scientific evidence is examined.
China said it had to act urgently because of its large, vulnerable population, the burden on its public health system, the economic importance of its swine herd and the fact that the A-H1N1 virus shares some genetic make-up with influenza that affects pigs.
Mexico reported that 20 countries – including 14 WTO members – had blocked its exports. Seven WTO members – Armenia, Bahrain, China, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan and Surinam - still have measures in place.
Earlier this week, Argentina became the first nation since early May to impose a ban on U.S. pork exports. Other countries with full or partial suspensions still in place from the time of the A-H1N1 influenza outbreak include China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, St. Lucia, Thailand and Uzbekistan. Effective dates, affected states and other specific details on these suspensions can be found in the FSIS Export Library.
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
WTO Members Debate A-H1N1 Influenza Restrictions
Trade restrictions imposed in response to the A-H1N1 influenza outbreak are falling under increased scrutiny this week in Geneva. Washington Trade Daily reports that at a two-day meeting of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee, some WTO members have complained that these restrictions represent unnecessary and unjustified barriers to trade.
Pork-exporting countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, the European Union, Brazil, Paraguay, Australia and the Dominican Republic all argued that import bans on live pigs and pork products are not scientifically justified for dealing with A-H1N1 influenza. They praised countries that had based their responses on science and criticized those that had imposed trade restrictions, saying the restrictions have no scientific justification. They also noted that in many cases, proper notification of these restrictions has not been made with the WTO.
But countries imposing the restrictions argued they had to act quickly to deal with an emergency. Some of the countries with restrictions – Ukraine, Indonesia, China and Jordan – said the measures were temporary and either had been lifted or would be lifted when scientific evidence is examined.
China said it had to act urgently because of its large, vulnerable population, the burden on its public health system, the economic importance of its swine herd and the fact that the A-H1N1 virus shares some genetic make-up with influenza that affects pigs.
Mexico reported that 20 countries – including 14 WTO members – had blocked its exports. Seven WTO members – Armenia, Bahrain, China, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan and Surinam - still have measures in place.
Earlier this week, Argentina became the first nation since early May to impose a ban on U.S. pork exports. Other countries with full or partial suspensions still in place from the time of the A-H1N1 influenza outbreak include China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, St. Lucia, Thailand and Uzbekistan. Effective dates, affected states and other specific details on these suspensions can be found in the FSIS Export Library.
# # #
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.