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Minnesota Pork CEO anxious for progress on Vietnam

The CEO of Minnesota Pork is hopeful a new approach will be enough to convince Vietnam to reduce or remove tariffs on U.S. pork.

David Preisler says the Biden administration can reset current trade policies.

“We do now have a new U.S. Trade Representative (and) our industry, along with a whole host of others are anxious to work with her and making sure that she has these things that are top-of-mind.”

He tells Brownfield President Biden has expressed a desire to work multilaterally with trading partners.

“That certainly can be helpful, but we’re looking forward to hopefully some change. Plus, Vietnam has African swine fever, so they’re seeing a reduction in their own domestic herd and we think we can certainly help provide product to them.”

Preisler says the Vietnamese currently consume more pork than Mexicans.

“And Mexico is our largest trading partner from the standpoint of pounds of pork.”

Vietnam did reduce its tariff on U.S. frozen pork products from 15 to 10 percent the last six months of 2020.