China’s ban on U.S. poultry and egg imports due to avian bird flu in the Pacific Northwest will hurt Minnesota poultry producers. Steve Olson with the Minnesota Turkey Growers and the Chicken and Egg Associations says the ban will be costly to especially turkey growers. China is one of their top markets and takes dark meat, which compliments the U.S. white meat market.
Olson says they aren’t sure how long the ban will last, but the trade shutdown is unwarranted as the influenza is in non-commercial locations and in wild birds. He says it’s an effort for China to protect their poultry producers.
The ban is a violation of international trade rules as the OIE guidelines allow trade restrictions only to those geographic regions of concern, not an entire nation.
