China this week banned imports of U.S. poultry and eggs following the detection of avian flu in wild birds in the Pacific Northwest.

“That’s overkill,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman in reaction. “It’s beyond the pale and we think they should be held to task and I’m hoping our government can convince China that they have over reacted and they should honor their international trade obligations.”
AFBF president reaction to China poultry ban

“There’s absolutely no justification for China to take such a drastic action,” adds Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. “In fact, these isolated and remote incidents are hundreds if not thousands of miles away from major poultry and egg production areas.”

China’s nationwide restrictions could also have a negative impact on its domestic poultry industry, Sumner said. “Since the ban also includes U.S. breeding stock, China is cutting off its industry’s main source of hatching eggs and chicks, which will curtail the industry’s ability to replenish and maintain its production.”

The Chinese government imposed the nationwide restriction on U.S. imports effective January 8.