Imported eggs on the way to Australia?

With Australian supermarkets squealing about a shortage of eggs, pressure is on for imports. Already some countries are eyeing off Australia as a potential market for shell eggs - and once the Trans Pacific Partnership is in place there will be no legal means to stop them.

Exports of U.S. table eggs in 2013 were an all-time high - 187.93 million dozen valued at $184.24 million, up 50 percent from 2012 - thanks largely to increased shipments to Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The top markets for U.S. table eggs in 2013 were Mexico, 62.2 million dozen, up from 17 million dozen in 2012; Hong Kong, 51.4 million dozen, up 11 percent; Canada, 39.3 million dozen, up 50 percent; the U.A.E., 11.4 million dozen, down 11 percent; the European Union, 8.6 million dozen, down 2 percent.