The leader of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, Surachai Suthitham, said that about 2000 swine raisers from various regions of the country will peacefully protest outside Government House and call on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to ban any import of US pork because, according to him, "it might otherwise push the local swine raisers out of business."

The prices of the imported pork is almost sure to undercut those of domestic pork, given relatively low production costs in the US, particularly the low prices of soybean and maize - major feeds for US swine, according to Mr Suthitham.

In addition to this, he said that the US government had bankrolled its swine raisers.

While pork in Thailand currently sells at US$4.5 per kilo, pork from the US could potentially be sold at $US3.3 a kilo, according to reports from the swine association.

Mr Suthitham said: "The US government had pressed for the Thai government to allow the import of the US meat and the swine's organs which the Americans do not consume, such as heads, legs and entrails.

"The US pork will not only undercut the prices in competition with the domestic pork but will likely cause an over-supply problem on the Thai market."

He also claimed that the US pork is likely to contain swine influenza which could be a health hazard to consumers.