Washington, April 8, 2025 (Lusa) - The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), a government agency, has classified as "unfair trade practices" the restrictions announced by Angola on imports of beef, pork and poultry, justifying the imposition of tariffs on the African country.
In a post on the X platform on Monday, the agency responsible for developing and promoting the foreign trade policies of the US highlighted "10 unfair trade practices" of various countries that are being faced by US exporters, including the case of Angola.
"Angola recently announced it will restrict import licenses for beef, pork, and poultry products starting July 31, 2025. In 2024, U.S. poultry exports to Angola were valued at $136 million" - about €124.17 million.
"Angola is the 9th largest market for U.S. poultry exports globally and the largest market for U.S. poultry on the African continent," the USTR post continues, stressing that these new trade restrictions will have "a significant impact" on US farmers and livestock breeders.
Angola's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, through the Institute of Veterinary Services, announced last February that imports of some food products of animal origin, namely poultry, pigs and cattle, would be banned.
In the document addressed to "importers of products and by-products of animal origin," it was announced that "licences will not be issued for the import of offal, parts of poultry, pigs and cattle" so long as conditions exist for the local production of these products, from certain dates onwards.
This is a measure by the government to strengthen domestic production and reduce its dependence on foreign markets.
On Wednesday - the day he dubbed "Liberation Day" - US President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from 184 countries and territories, including the European Union.
The new rules unveiled by Trump increase tariffs on Angolan products to 32%, compared to the previous average tariff of 11%, "but as Angola has not increased its customs tariff, the new tariffs have no impact on Angolan products sold to the US," Angolan economist Flávio Inocêncio told Lusa.
In addition to Angola, the other members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) covered by the measure announced by the US President will see tariffs of 16% in Mozambique and 13% in Equatorial Guinea, with the others (Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Cabo Verde and Timor-Leste) facing tariffs of 10%, while Portugal is included in those on the EU.
Trump announced tariffs of 20% on products imported from the EU, in addition to tariffs of 25% on the automobile, steel and aluminium sectors.
In Monday's publication, the USTR also referred, among other things, to Brazil's "unfair trade practices" to justify the application of tariffs to that country and others.
"Illegal logging and illegal mining in South America, especially in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, fuel environmental degradation and create unfair competition that harms US companies committed to responsible sourcing and compliance with environmental laws," the agency argued. "These illicit activities, which often involve transnational criminal organisations, distort global commodity markets by driving down prices and allowing malicious actors to harm legitimate US exporters."
MYMM/ARO // ARO.
Lusa
