“Opportunity” that’s how Iowa pork producer Kevin Rasmussen describes the outlook for trade with Viet Nam and Philippines. Rasmussen is the past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, and recently traveled to the southeast Asia region with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on a trade mission. Rasmussen says the region is seeing a growing population with pork as the preferred meat of choice.
Rasmussen says many of Viet Nam’s pork herds have been infected with African Swine Fever which has limited the consumer’s access to pork products. He says he was surprised when Vietnamese officials said they prefer whole muscle pork meat instead of variety meats.
The Iowa pork producer says tariffs currently stand in the way for U-S pork products from being competitive. He says he saw pork from other countries, as well as Vietnamese domestic pork being marketed in Viet Nam and Philippines.
Rasmussen observed a vast difference with income levels of the Vietnamese people. He says the economy is expected to increase giving more people access to additional money.
Rasmussen says the people were friendly to the Americans and excited to visit with them.
