South Africa Says Deal Reached with U.S. Over Poultry

PRETORIA – South Africa said on Thursday it had come to an agreement with the U.S. at the 11th hour over poultry imports that were threatening to sabotage the country’s preferential access to the U.S. for several agricultural products.

“All outstanding issues on AGOA (the African Growth and Opportunity Act) have been agreed upon and finalised and negotiations have been concluded,” Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said.

Some 65,000 tons of U.S. poultry will be allowed to enter the country, according to Davies. The U.S. has not commented yet or said whether South Africa will retain its benefits under AGOA, the U.S. law that gives preferential trade benefits to certain countries.

The delay in finalising the agreement, according to Davies, centred on issues related to poultry imports, specifically highly pathogenic avian influenza and salmonella. South Africa failed to meet a 31 December deadline to conclude a deal, which raised the risk of the U.S. canceling its duty-free access to that country on numerous agricultural products and certain automotive products, news reports said.

Davies said the U.S. imports would be subject to a rigorous health-checking process. South Africa has been under pressure since November over access to its market for U.S. chicken, beef and pork products.