Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Reopening of Korea Market to U.S. Poultry

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Reopening of Korea Market to U.S. Poultry

“Following extensive engagement with USDA’s technical experts, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has announced that U.S. poultry producers can again export to customers in South Korea. By persuading other trading partners to enforce regionalized bans that affect only those areas where HPAI was detected, and to rely on internationally accepted science-based standards for trade, USDA has helped preserve billions in U.S. poultry exports. In 2015, despite the HPAI outbreak, U.S. poultry and poultry product exports reached $4.6 billion. This action will support USDA’s continued work with other countries to lift remaining HPAI-related restrictions.  USDA also will work with South Korea to try and avoid future nationwide restrictions.
 
"Thanks to USDA’s efforts, international sales of U.S. farm and food products have surpassed $1 trillion since 2009 under the Obama Administration. Agricultural exports support more than one million American jobs both on and off the farm each year. Between 2010 and 2015, median farm household income increased by 47 percent due in part to our farmers’ ability to remain competitive in a global market.”