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NPPC touts wins in 2019 and outlines priorities for 2020

The president of the National Pork Producers Council says pork producers are in a better position heading into 2020 than they were a year ago, despite a year full of challenges.

North Carolina pork producer David Herring says they’re heading into the new year with momentum.  “USMCA and the preservation of long-term zero duty pork trade in North America was another cause for celebration,” he says.  “And we look forward to the President signing it into law early next year.  Another tremendous win for pork producers this year was the signing of the US-Japan bilateral trade deal.” 

He says one of the biggest priorities for pork producers in 2020 is keeping African swine fever out of the US.  “More can be done,” he says.  “And NPPC is pushing for 600 new agricultural inspectors at our borders to bring the number to 3,000.”

Herring says NPPC was pleased to see the US House approve an addition $19.6 million in funding for more ag inspectors at land, air, and sea ports to further prevent African swine fever and other foreign animal diseases from entering the US.  The funding was included in the FY 2020 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.

Some of the other priorities for 2020 include seeing the USMCA and Japan trade agreements implemented, continue to work to gain unrestricted market access in China, expand trade by pursuing export opportunities in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, establish regulatory oversight of gene-edited livestock with the USDA, find a solution for livestock agriculture’s labor shortage, and advance NPPC’s legal challenge of California’s Proposition 12.