BANGKOK, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Thai swine raisers will gather here on Tuesday in protest of speculated import of pork from the United States.
Swine Raisers Association of Thailand leader Surachai Suthitham said on Monday an estimated 2,000 swine raisers from various provinces throughout the country will peacefully protest outside Government House and call on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to ban any import of U.S. pork because, he said, it might otherwise push the local swine raisers out of business.
The prices of the imported pork will almost certainly undercut those of the domestic pork, given relatively low production costs in the U.S., particularly the low prices of soybean and maize -- major feeds for the U.S. swine, according to Surachai Suthitham.
In addition, the U.S. government had provided subsidy for its swine raisers, he said.
While the domestic pork currently sells for 4.5 U.S. dollars per kilo in Thailand, the imported pork from the U.S. might sell only for 3.3 dollars a kilo, according to the latest report of the association.
"The U.S. government had pressed for the Thai government to allow the import of the U.S. meat and the swine's organs which the Americans do not consume, such as heads, legs and entrails.
"The U.S. pork will not only undercut the prices in competition with the domestic pork but will likely cause an over-supply problem on the Thai market," he said.
He also charged that the U.S. pork might contain swine influenza which could be hazardous to consumers.
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