A bipartisan group of 37 Senators led by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue calling for the swift reopening of the Chinese market after exports of U.S. chicken and turkey were banned in 2015. The National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council and USA Poultry and Egg Export Council expressed appreciation of the focus that U.S. negotiators and the administration have on next steps to officially reopen the Chinese market to chicken and turkey from the United States as quickly as possible.
“Poultry producers are pleased to see a third of the Senate, led by Senators Cochran and Warner, call for swift progress to end China’s ban on U.S. poultry,” stated both National Turkey Federation and National Chicken Council. “It is critical that we continue to develop an open trading relationship with the Chinese. The Senate’s strong statement on behalf of American poultry products makes clear balance and fairness must exist for a two-way open market with China.”