EU's ban on Brazilian chicken is heading to WTO
Brazil’s agriculture minister, Blairo Maggi, is considering filing a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is EU will extend the blockade on Brazilian chicken from nine BRF plants and to revoke the credentials for other poultry producers in the country.
"This issue of a trade war, we have seen the United States with ‘America first’ but there is also ‘Europe first’. This is headed to a difficult place for everyone involved", said Maggi, according to Reuters.
The official announced that he expects a final list from Brussels of banned plants but, in his opinion, EU is masking some commercial motives under the sanitation concerns that have no technical ground. "We are suffering from a commercial embargo, it’s not a question of sanitation", declared Maggi. Still, opening a panel of discussion at WTO is a measure that has to be approved by the foreign ministry.
A month ago, Brazil self-imposed a ban on chicken exports to EU for 10 of 35 plants owned by BRF. Rumours are now saying that the EU officials are aiming to block the exports of 15 BRF plants and other producers may be targeted as well.
Data presented by minister Blairo Maggi shows that Brazil sold $317 million worth of fresh salted chicken to the EU last year and $118 million worth of unsalted fresh chicken.
(Photo source: Pinterest)
The measure is an important step towards expanding access for Brazilian meat to that market. The ...
