China Subsidizing Domestic Industry Amid Swine Fever Outbreak

(BEIJING, CHINA) As China continues to deal with a devastating outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), consumers are hoping pork prices don’t skyrocket. With about half of the hog herd in the nation gone from ASF or culling due to the virus, authorities have started regulating the price of pork in a bid to cope with the situation. China’s Ministry of Commerce has seen wholesale prices increase by almost nine percent in the past week, according to The Epoch Times. In response to the price surges, about ten provinces or cities have issued subsidies, quotas, and have been releasing frozen reserves in an effort to curb the spiking prices. ASF is not harmful to humans but is lethal in pigs and with no treatment or vaccine available for the disease, the only line of defense is through depopulation or culling of all affected or exposed swine herds. In addition to China, four other countries are fighting the spread of the disease – including Vietnam where 63 cities or provinces have led to losses of more than 4.5 million head, according to the latest numbers from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).