March 21, 2025

 

US pork producers secure five-year market access to China

US pork producers have received confirmation that over 300 pork harvesting and cold storage facilities have had their registrations renewed by China, ensuring continued access to a key export market.

 

The eligibility of these facilities to export to China had either expired in late February or was set to expire on 16 March, with uncertainty over whether China would reinstate the registrations. On 17 March, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced that all facilities seeking renewal had been approved for another five years.

 

Bryan Humphreys, chief executive officer of NPPC, stated that the decision provides stability for US pork exports to China's 1.4 billion consumers. He highlighted NPPC's ongoing efforts to expand market access and strengthen the industry's position in global trade.

 

China remains a significant destination for US pork, particularly for offals, which hold greater value in the Chinese market compared to other regions. In 2024, the US exported more than 367,000 tonnes of pork to China, amounting to over US$1.1 billion. Approximately 55% of US pork variety meat exports, including offals, were shipped to China.

 

The renewal process involved coordination between the US Department of Agriculture, the US Trade Representative, and China's General Administration of Customs.

 

Discussions focused on extending the registration of US pork and beef facilities that were either recently expired or nearing expiration.

 

While the pork industry has secured a favourable outcome, the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) noted that US beef facilities have yet to receive confirmation of renewal for licenses that expired on March 16, 2025.

 

Joe Schuele, a spokesperson for USMEF, stated that 390 US beef facilities remain in limbo, with no confirmation from China regarding their registration status. He advised exporters that beef produced before 16 March should still be cleared through customs if importers had obtained quarantine permits in advance.

 

USMEF has estimated that losing access to China could result in a full-year impact of $4.13 billion for the US beef industry. This figure considers not only direct export losses but also the effect on pricing in markets such as Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, where demand for US beef is influenced by China's purchasing activity.

 

The registration renewals stem from an agreement first established in 2020 under the "Phase 1" trade deal brokered during President Donald Trump's administration. The original deal granted hundreds of US meat processing facilities access to China, but these licenses are now reaching their five-year expiration.

 

A report from Reuters indicated that nearly 1,000 beef, pork, and poultry processing plants were affected, including some owned by major industry players such as Tyson Foods and Cargill. The outcome of ongoing discussions regarding beef facility registrations remains uncertain.

 

- Supermarket Perimeter