NATO ally turns down US plea for eggs

Finland has refused to export eggs to the US, citing regulatory hurdles and supply constraints, after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached out to several EU producers amid skyrocketing domestic prices, local outlet Yle has reported.

The American market is experiencing a severe egg shortage due to a bird flu outbreak that has drastically reduced domestic production. Prices have surged by 200% from last year, reaching an all-time high of $8.41 per dozen, according to Bloomberg.

To stabilize the market, the USDA has appealed to several European countries, including Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, for imports. The Finnish Poultry Association confirmed that it had been contacted but stated that exports were not currently feasible.

“Launching exports is not a simple matter since there are no agreed rules in place,” the association’s executive director, Veera Lehtila, told Yle on Saturday. She explained that Finland lacks national approval to export egg products to the US, meaning any potential shipments would require extensive regulatory procedures.

Lehtila also noted that Finland’s domestic supply is limited, making exports impractical.

“We have four million laying hens in total in Finland. The amount we could export would not solve their egg shortage,” she said, pointing out that the US culled five times as many birds due to bird flu in the last quarter alone.

An official response, drafted in coordination with the Finnish Food Authority, has already been sent to US authorities, according to Helsingin Sanomat.

The outbreak has severely impacted US poultry farms, particularly in major egg-producing states such as Iowa and Ohio. In response, the USDA announced plans to allocate up to $1 billion to combat the crisis and support affected farmers through biosecurity measures and compensation for lost flocks, according to Reuters.

Europe is also facing egg shortages due to bird flu, with millions of chickens culled across the continent. One of Sweden’s largest egg producers, Kronagg, told Aftonbladet that it is unlikely to export to the US due to restrictions. The Danish Egg Association stated that while it would consider exports, there is hardly any surplus available.

Meanwhile, trade tensions between Washington and Brussels have escalated. US President Donald Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on European wine, cognac, and other alcohol imports if the EU moves forward with plans to impose duties on American whiskey. This is part of a broader trade dispute in which both sides have introduced tariffs on various goods, further straining transatlantic relations.

RT