Global trade is a complex thing. There are agreements in place, tariffs, trade barriers, and the list goes on and on. It’s not just saying, “Hey we would like to sell you some food.” And they respond, “Okay here’s our money.” There are so many rules, regulations, and standards that the global marketplace is trying to implement for the safety of products and the fairness of the market.
Not only are international relations in agriculture revolving around food purchasing, they are also concerned with the partnerships and research being done to alleviate common problems, such as foreign animal diseases. To that end, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is working along all fronts with their international teams to secure our trade agreements and our animal health.
Maria Zieba is VP of Government Affairs at NPPC and she talks about the work we are doing with two of our largest trading partners, and closest neighbors to keep foreign animal diseases at bay.
Getting a few different governments, with different ideals and ways of doing business, to work together is tough. It takes heavy commitment from organizations like NPPC to help guide these discussions into a beneficial solution for all parties involved.
Zieba says that the international community is working hard to keep animal diseases at bay and moving towards eradicating them.
