U.S. Meat Export Federation Pushes for Trade Barrier Reforms
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is calling on the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take decisive action to address persistent trade barriers in several African and Caribbean nations that are restricting U.S. red meat exports. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom highlighted key market access challenges, particularly in South Africa, Nigeria, and Jamaica, where U.S. pork and beef products face significant restrictions.
South Africa: Trade Barriers on Pork and Beef
South Africa presents a mixed picture for U.S. meat exporters. According to Halstrom, U.S. pork products, especially variety meats, face major hurdles due to non-science-based restrictions.
“It’s very difficult to ship pork variety meats in there from the U.S., and there’s also a lot of non-science-based restrictions around pork muscle cuts,” Halstrom explained.
In addition to the challenges around raw pork, South Africa also bars access to processed pork products entirely. Halstrom noted that lifting even one of these restrictions—such as allowing imports of pork hearts—could immediately lead to substantial trade volume increases, potentially 300 to 400 metric tons per month.
On the beef side, U.S. exporters face steep tariffs. Most beef muscle cuts are subject to tariffs exceeding 30%, a major deterrent to expanding exports despite better overall access compared to pork.
Nigeria: A Closed Market for Fresh and Frozen Red Meat
In contrast to South Africa, Nigeria remains almost entirely closed to U.S. red meat imports. Halstrom described the situation as worse than South Africa’s:
“Nigeria is completely closed to fresh and frozen U.S. red meat, beef and pork.”
Currently, Nigeria permits only a limited category of processed pork products—primarily sausages—from the United States. This severely limits the potential for growth in U.S. meat exports to one of Africa’s largest consumer markets.
Caribbean Concerns: Longstanding Ban in Jamaica
USMEF is also urging the USTR to address unjustified restrictions in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica. The country has maintained a ban on U.S. pork imports for decades, despite repeated efforts to reopen the market through diplomatic and trade channels.
“The U.S. pork industry at MEF, as well, has been working closely with POST for years to try to open this market, and so far we haven’t had a lot of success,” Halstrom said.
He emphasized that the Caribbean Basin Initiative offers a strategic opportunity to push for science-based reforms and finally open the Jamaican market to U.S. pork products.
USTR Targets Brazil in New Trade Investigation
In a related move, the U.S. Trade Representative announced on social platform X that it will conduct a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s trade practices. The investigation aims to address what USTR describes as “unfair trading practices” and ensure fair treatment of U.S. companies in the Brazilian market.
This broader push signals the USTR’s increasing willingness to use trade enforcement tools to support U.S. agricultural interests and level the playing field for American exporters.
Conclusion
As U.S. red meat producers seek to expand globally, removing outdated or protectionist trade barriers remains essential. USMEF’s appeal to the USTR underscores the need for science-based trade policy and fair market access—principles that could significantly benefit both American producers and consumers worldwide.