Competitiveness factors in pig meat imports from third countries in the perspective of the liberalization of trade

The estimated price of the main cuts of pork meat noted in the United States over the last few years, expressed at their entry in Europe underlines a serious competitive advantage, that could induce imports on the French market. The current import tariffs (normal rate fixed at the WTO) do not overcompensate this situation. A suppression of the import barriers (sanitary, agreement of industrial sites) will make probable the appearance of flows of cuts towards the EU, from the main exporting pig basins : North America and Brazil. A significant reduction of imports tariffs, currently under negotiation at the Doha Round of the WTO, should bring an increased presence of UE's current suppliers on its internal market, especially concerning meat cuts for the processing industry. The answer strategies to this situation of the meat products market, the search for commercial opportunities should induce the meat processing industry to turn towards new geographical sources of supply for their cuts need, particularly for shoulders. There will be a potential for imports of hams.Prospective volumes and purchase price will lead to high risks on the European market, firstly with a more or less prolonged unbalance between supply and demand. They will also induce flows modifications in the trade between the different branches of the pig industry (slaughterers, cutting companies, meat processing), changes in the hierarchy of meat cut prices and the valorising of the products. All these consequences will have a negative impact on the price paid to pig farmers.