U.S. pork industry challenges Brazil trade barriers

NPPC urges action against Brazil pork trade restrictions

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is urging the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to take strong action against Brazil for imposing unfair trade barriers on American pork. Maria C. Zieba, NPPC’s Vice President of Government Affairs, testified in support of opening a Section 301 investigation to address the issue. 

Zieba highlighted that Brazil is ignoring its obligations under the World Trade Organization’s Sanitary-Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. The country imposes restrictions on imported pork products that are more stringent than those on domestic products. Brazil justifies these measures as animal health and food safety protections, but NPPC argues that the restrictions lack scientific basis. 

One major concern is Brazil’s requirement that U.S. pork be frozen or tested for trichinae. According to NPPC, U.S. biosecurity programs have already reduced trichinae risk to negligible levels, making Brazil’s requirements unnecessary and in violation of SPS rules. 

Another issue raised is Brazil’s refusal to finalize an export certificate that would allow U.S. pork shipments. This comes despite the United States recognizing Brazil’s own request for regionalization of Foot and Mouth Disease, which has allowed pork from Santa Catarina to enter the U.S. 

NPPC argues that Brazil has effectively created a ban on U.S. pork, limiting access to one of the world’s largest pork-consuming markets. At the same time, Brazilian pork exports to the U.S. have grown significantly—from $5.2 million in 2014 to more than $104 million in 2024, an increase of over 1,900 percent. 

“Brazil’s trade barriers are unjustified and harm American producers,” Zieba stated in her testimony. NPPC is urging USTR to eliminate these restrictions so U.S. pork—fresh, frozen, and processed—can reach consumers in Latin America’s largest economy. 

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