Export of Flemish pork on the up

“When an animal disease crops up in Wallonia, such as African swine fever, Flanders can no longer make any exports. And yet our animals are as fit as a fiddle.” The N-VA advocates the further regionalisation of the trade policy now that figures show pork exports rising. Of the 4,321 pig farms in Belgium, 3,790 are in Flanders. “It would benefit our competitive position if Flanders itself could negotiate regarding sanitary certificates.”

Stable trading partners

The export of pork was good for EUR 1.67 billion in 2017, a noticeable increase in comparison with previous years. According to the N-VA, these figures show that certainly for Flanders, the pig farming sector is an important and high-performing one, the importance of which must not be neglected in trade agreements. “Although exports to countries outside the EU only amount to about 7%, the N-VA nevertheless advocates strengthening and expanding relations with stable trading partners, to which we can tailor our sector sustainably.