Isakson Announces Major Victory for Georgian Poultry Farmers

Press Release

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., announced Tuesday that the United States has won a major victory in a trade dispute with India that will allow American farmers to resume the export of poultry to India.

The World Trade Organization, commonly referred to as WTO, ruled Tuesday in favor of the United States in a dispute challenging India's ban on various U.S. agricultural products -- such as poultry meat, eggs and live pigs -- allegedly to protect against avian influenza. The panel agreed with the United States that India's ban breached numerous international trade rules, including because it was imposed without sufficient scientific evidence.

"This is a great victory for the United States and Georgia poultry, in particular. I have been working to open up India to U.S. poultry since this issue was brought to my attention," said Sen. Isakson, ranking member on the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade. "I am pleased that the WTO panel affirmed that measures to ensure food safety must be based on science and not a desire to restrict market access. Georgia is the fourth largest poultry-producing region in the world, so this means a great deal to our state economy."

For over seven years, India has imposed import restrictions on various U.S. agricultural products, particularly poultry meat, eggs and live pigs, purportedly to prevent entry of avian influenza into India. The United States, however, has not had an outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza since 2004. The United States has consistently explained to India that, as reflected in relevant international standards, there is no scientific basis to ban imports of U.S. agricultural products.

In 2011, Isakson sent a letter with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and 17 of his Senate colleagues to then-U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk requesting the United States pursue this issue with India in bilateral discussions.

The United States initiated this dispute on March 6, 2012, by requesting consultations with India. After consultations proved unsuccessful in resolving U.S. concerns, the WTO established a panel at the request of the United States to hear its claims that India's avian influenza restrictions are inconsistent with India's WTO obligations.

In its report, the WTO panel found that India's restrictions breached its obligations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Isakson joined U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and John Carney, D-Del., on a call Tuesday to announce the ruling and discuss its implications for U.S. agricultural producers.

The U.S. poultry industry, which directly employs over 350,000 workers and consists of nearly 50,000 family farms -- has been particularly affected by India's restrictions. The industry estimates that U.S. exports to India of just poultry meat alone could easily exceed $300 million a year once India's restrictions are removed.

The poultry industry annually contributes over $15.1 billion to the Georgia economy, including farmers, processing, and allied industries.

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