WASHINGTON – Congressman Rick Crawford, (R-AR) and Congressman Sanford Bishop, (D-GA), co-chairs of the Congressional Chicken Caucus, led their colleagues in expressing concerns over antidumping duties Mexico has preliminarily assigned to U.S. chicken leg quarters. In a letter to U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk, members of the Chicken Caucus said the pending duties would have a devastating economic impact on the American chicken industry.

“Pending antidumping duties from Mexico would be a blow to chicken producers in my district and across the country.  The Chicken Caucus is committed to expanding markets for producers, and working with Ambassador Kirk to ensure that American producers are treated fairly by foreign governments. We are hopeful an agreement can be reached and Mexico will fulfill its commitments to free and fair trade,” said Congressman Crawford.

“As Georgia continues to be the number one poultry exporter in the nation, it goes without saying that increased duties by the Mexican government against the chicken market would cause great concern to my constituents,” said Congressman Bishop. “Like Congressman Crawford, I would hope that Mexico would heed the concern of the Congressional Chicken Caucus and push for a positive outcome for the American poultry industry.”

U.S. chicken companies directly employ over 300,000 workers, producing products worth a wholesale value of over $45 billion dollars annually with major operations in more than 30 states.  Further, there are more than 40 vertically integrated companies that contract with about 25,000 family farmers to produce market-ready broilers, hatching eggs and pullets.

Chicken Caucus Letter