The National Pork Producers Council led an ad-hoc group of 27 agriculture and food organizations in urging Congress to “promptly” approve legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, which gives imports from eligible countries duty-free access to the United States. The trade program expired at the end of 2020. 

In a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House trade committees, the groups asked lawmakers “to advance and pass legislation to reauthorize GSP and return to building goodwill with potential customers.” 

GSP, which was granted to more than 120 mostly developing countries, has been an important tool used by U.S. trade negotiators to persuade nations to eliminate trade barriers, adhere to science-based international standards, and open their markets to U.S. goods. As a condition of eligibility, GSP beneficiary countries must give U.S. products “reasonable and equitable” access to their markets. 

In their latest Capital Update, NPPC noted, "America’s farmers and ranchers rely on foreign market access to thrive and grow their businesses. Allowing signature trade programs to expire for years on end hurts the credibility of the United States as a trusted trading partner. For U.S. pork producers, gaining and expanding access to markets around the world is paramount. Exports contribute significantly to producers’ bottom line, equating to an average of $63.76 in value from each hog that was marketed in 2023 when the pork industry sent more than 2.9 million metric tons of pork valued at $8.16 billion – a record – to more than 100 nations."

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