World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round

IMPORTANCE

With 96 percent of the world’s population residing outside of the United States, it is essential that U.S. pork

producers continue to gain access to more of these potential customers. A successful World Trade Organization

Doha Development Round had the ability to increase the world economy by $300 billion over the next decade.

New and expanded market access through trade agreements have been the most important catalysts for increased

U.S. pork exports. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994 and the Uruguay

Round Agreement in 1995, U.S. exports of pork and pork products have increased by more than 389 percent in

volume terms and more than 361 percent in value terms. While pork exports have exploded in recent years, future

growth is dependent on further trade liberalization. The average global tariff on pork is still a staggering 77 percent.

BACKGROUND

The WTO Doha Round began in 2001 and is NPPC’s top trade priority. Unfortunately, the proposals put forward by

the European Union and the G-20, if implemented, will not bring about significant increases in U.S. pork exports.

For pork producers to get increased market access from the Doha Round, the U.S. must engage in bilateral

negotiations with the EU and Japan. Currently, the U.S. supplies far less than 1 percent of EU pork consumption,

and while Japan is the biggest value market in the world for U.S. pork exports, there is still enormous potential

for growth.

NPPC POSITION

NPPC will strongly support a Doha agreement if it will generate significant increases in U.S. pork exports.

NPPC CONTACT

Nicholas Giordano, International Trade Counsel, (202)347-3600, giordann@nppc.org.

Last Updated: February 1, 2007