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Smithfield Foods Defends China Takeover

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Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope takes his seat on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, before the start of a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the pending sale of Smithfield to China's largest meat producer. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope takes his seat on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, before the start of a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the pending sale of Smithfield to China's largest meat producer. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork processor and hog producer, may soon be owned by China's largest meat producer, Shuanghui International Holdings.

Yesterday, Smithfield CEO Larry Pope testified before the Senate agriculture committee about lauding the deal, saying "this is an opportunity for U.S. pork producers to grow."

Detractors say China's poor reputation for food safety and its opaque business practices could pose long-term harm for the United States.

Guest:

  • Usha Haley, professor of management and director of the Robbins Center for Global Business and Strategy at West Virginia University. She tweets @uhaley.

This segment aired on July 11, 2013.

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