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U.S.'s Secret Trade Weapon With China: Chicken Feet
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 16, 2009
Modified Sep 16, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 16, 2009
Modified Sep 16, 2009
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With the U.S.'s decision to put tariffs on tire imports from China—and China's unhappiness with the decision—there are concerns that China may impose retaliatory action on imports of U.S. poultry and vehicles. However, the NY Times suggests there's a secret weapon that Chicken Little might appreciate (or might not). A poultry economist and consultant, Paul Aho, tells the Times, "We have these jumbo, juicy paws the Chinese really love so I don’t think they are going to cut us off." While exports of U.S. chicken to China and Hong Kong only amount to 2% of the total poultry export revenue, it's very profitable: "About half of the chicken parts sold to China are wings and feet, which are worth only a few cents a pound in the United States. As delicacies in China, they fetch 60 cents to 80 cents a pound, a price that no other foreign market comes close to matching." And apparently U.S. poultry companies are the "world’s leading supplier of king-size chicken feet." Cato Institute trade expert Daniel Griswold said there's some risk, "If we are playing a game of chicken with China we are going to be big losers." In the meantime, China wants talks with the U.S. at the WTO.
Tagged
chicken feet
chicken paw
china
economy
trade
us
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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