NATO Member Rejects US Request for Eggs
Finland has declined an American request to export eggs, citing regulatory barriers and limited supply as key factors, according to local outlet Yle. This decision comes in light of the US Department of Agriculture's outreach to several European...
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Finland has declined an American request to export eggs, citing regulatory barriers and limited supply as key factors, according to local outlet Yle. This decision comes in light of the US Department of Agriculture's outreach to several European producers amid soaring domestic egg prices.
The current egg shortage in the US, driven by a bird flu outbreak that significantly diminished local production, has resulted in prices soaring by 200% compared to last year, reaching a record $8.41 per dozen, as reported by Bloomberg.
To address the egg crisis, the USDA has sought imports from multiple European nations, including Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. However, the Finnish Poultry Association confirmed that while they were contacted, exporting eggs is not feasible at the moment.
“Launching exports is not a simple matter since there are no agreed rules in place,” said Veera Lehtila, the association’s executive director, in an interview with Yle on Saturday. She elaborated that Finland currently lacks national approval for exporting egg products to the US, meaning that any potential shipments would necessitate extensive regulatory procedures.
Furthermore, Lehtila highlighted the limitations of Finland's domestic supply, which makes exports impractical.
“We have four million laying hens in total in Finland. The amount we could export would not solve their egg shortage,” she pointed out, noting that the US has culled five times as many birds due to the bird flu outbreak in just the last quarter.
An official response, prepared in collaboration with the Finnish Food Authority, has already been sent to US authorities, according to Helsingin Sanomat.
The bird flu outbreak has had a severe impact on US poultry farms, especially in key egg-producing states like Iowa and Ohio. In response, the USDA announced plans to allocate up to $1 billion to aid affected farmers through biosecurity measures and compensation for lost flocks, as reported by Reuters.
Europe is also facing its own egg shortages due to the bird flu, with millions of chickens culled across the continent. Kronagg, one of Sweden’s largest egg producers, indicated to Aftonbladet that exporting to the US seems unlikely because of existing restrictions. The Danish Egg Association mentioned that while it might consider exports, available surplus is minimal.
In the midst of this, trade tensions between Washington and Brussels have been escalating. US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European wine, cognac, and other alcohol imports if the EU proceeds with its plan to impose tariffs on American whiskey. This situation is part of a larger trade dispute that has seen both sides implement tariffs on various goods, further straining transatlantic relations.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
The current egg shortage in the US, driven by a bird flu outbreak that significantly diminished local production, has resulted in prices soaring by 200% compared to last year, reaching a record $8.41 per dozen, as reported by Bloomberg.
To address the egg crisis, the USDA has sought imports from multiple European nations, including Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. However, the Finnish Poultry Association confirmed that while they were contacted, exporting eggs is not feasible at the moment.
“Launching exports is not a simple matter since there are no agreed rules in place,” said Veera Lehtila, the association’s executive director, in an interview with Yle on Saturday. She elaborated that Finland currently lacks national approval for exporting egg products to the US, meaning that any potential shipments would necessitate extensive regulatory procedures.
Furthermore, Lehtila highlighted the limitations of Finland's domestic supply, which makes exports impractical.
“We have four million laying hens in total in Finland. The amount we could export would not solve their egg shortage,” she pointed out, noting that the US has culled five times as many birds due to the bird flu outbreak in just the last quarter.
An official response, prepared in collaboration with the Finnish Food Authority, has already been sent to US authorities, according to Helsingin Sanomat.
The bird flu outbreak has had a severe impact on US poultry farms, especially in key egg-producing states like Iowa and Ohio. In response, the USDA announced plans to allocate up to $1 billion to aid affected farmers through biosecurity measures and compensation for lost flocks, as reported by Reuters.
Europe is also facing its own egg shortages due to the bird flu, with millions of chickens culled across the continent. Kronagg, one of Sweden’s largest egg producers, indicated to Aftonbladet that exporting to the US seems unlikely because of existing restrictions. The Danish Egg Association mentioned that while it might consider exports, available surplus is minimal.
In the midst of this, trade tensions between Washington and Brussels have been escalating. US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European wine, cognac, and other alcohol imports if the EU proceeds with its plan to impose tariffs on American whiskey. This situation is part of a larger trade dispute that has seen both sides implement tariffs on various goods, further straining transatlantic relations.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
