- The U.S. government requires European countries, including Denmarkto increase egg exports, as American poultry farms emit from the spread of bird flu, thereby increasing egg prices. The request comes amid repeated threats from Donald Trump, saying the United States will annex Greenland territory while threatening Europe with high tariffs on alcohol.
The U.S. egg shortage has prompted the government to rely on European egg supply, even as President Donald Trump threatens some countries through economic sanctions and huge tariffs.
The USDA has contacted Denmark and other European countries to request that they increase egg exports in the fight against avian flu in the U.S. poultry farms. According to the letter Watched by Reuters.
“We are still waiting for more guidance from Washington from the next step, but do you have an estimate of the number of eggs that can be provided to the United States (assuming they meet all import requirements)?” a USDA letter sent to the Danish Egg Society earlier this month said.
It continued: “Washington is trying to estimate the amount they can provide.”
USDA did not respond immediately wealthMake a request for comment.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reportedly has a clear difference in the tone of President Donald Trump. He repeatedly claimed that he would annex Denmark’s autonomous territory, even Threat economic sanctions and refused to exclude military operations to occupy the island’s natural resources.
The government’s broader plea for Europe is in stark contrast to its aggressive stance on trade. also Tariffs on aluminum and steelTrump also called for a 200% tax on European alcohol imports.
The United States has not put all its egg exports in one basket. Efforts to diversify egg supply are part of the USDA’s proposal Invest $1 billion These costs have reached record highs when addressing egg costs $5.90 According to the Consumer Price Index, in February, it was up 10.4% from its August 2023 low, up 189%.
Avian flu tangles the U.S. egg supply chain, causing deaths 20 million egg hens In the last quarter of 2024, the U.S. farm. The United States has sought help from Türkiye, which Türkiye plans Exported 420 million eggs According to Türkiye’s Central Alliance of Egg Producers, this year is against the United States.
Nevertheless, this pales compared to typical domestic supply. The United States produces 7.5 billion eggs every year. According to the US egg platebut this number may drop if the bird flu continues to destroy poultry farms in the United States.
Denmark responds
The Danish Egg Association is open to the idea of sending eggs to the United States in the next six months, but has not received any other details of the number of eggs that the United States can accommodate, Jørgen Nyberg Larsen,,,,, CEO of Trade Group wealth.
Larson said the country does not have a large amount of eggs to increase exports and may not be in the near future due to increased demand before Easter. The Danish Egg Society also plans to offer its long-term loyal customers and then turn its attention to Denmark’s exports, which may be modest at best.
The same is true in European countries Their eggs are handled differentlydo not wash their natural protective coatings, which requires them to be refrigerated because they are in the United States, and different hygiene standards can complicate the way eggs are shipped.
Risks and returns of imported eggs
Relying on European eggs is far from a certain success. Thomas Kull, professor of supply chain management at Arizona State University’s WP Carey School of Business, said that following the law of supply and demand, more eggs should help ease sticker shocks in grocery aisles. In addition, cheap European eggs may also force domestic producers to take a hit and reduce costs for consumers. wealth.
But, besides Europe may not have eggs yet, the United States will also worry about how these eggs will arrive in the United States. There are many technologies that can transport fine goods that are sensitive to vibrations, but the United States and exporting countries may lack the infrastructure to accommodate large egg transport, and transportation systems take time to go east.
Most importantly, however, the Trump administration tends to fight for eggs in Europe, which may be a way to assert that they are trying to solve the supply problem.
“The ultimate goal is to prove that something is being done, or someone is trying to do something,” Cool said. “You don’t know what the hell does.”
This story was originally fortune.com
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