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Mississippi Senators Criticize Duties on Poultry Exports

Posted: 9:31 AM Apr 11, 2012
Reporter: The Associated Press

Mississippi Republican Sens. Thad Cochran
and Roger Wicker are calling for the Obama administration to challenge new duties proposed by Mexico on imported U.S. poultry.

Cochran and Wicker are among 16 senators who sent a letter to the U.S. trade representative expressing concern with proposed duties ranging from 64 percent to 129 percent on imported poultry,
specifically chicken leg quarters.

Cochran says Mexico's actions are contrary to the open market concept written into the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Wicker says the president must protect the interests of poultry farmers in Mississippi and other states.

Cochran and Wicker say the value of U.S. poultry exports to Mexico is nearly $270 million.

In 2011, Mississippi produced 765 million broilers, valued at $2.21 billion, according to the Mississippi State University.