November 14, 2025

Trump, Xi make headway on easing pork trade barriers 

US pork exports to China fell 13% in the first seven months of the year, largely because of retaliatory tariffs.

The White House provided more details on the measures agreed in a recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, including progress on agricultural trade barriers imposed by China and suspension of port service fees that raise costs for US exporters.

 In response to the White House fact sheet on the latest US-China trade relations, National Pork Producers Council President and Ohio pork producer Duane Stateler praised the Trump administration's efforts in negotiating with China.

"In a win for US agriculture and America's pork producers, China has suspended its retaliatory tariffs set in March. We are very pleased to see the Trump administration answer the widespread call of agriculture, including persistent requests from the National Pork Producers Council, to negotiate for tariff removal and allow business with China to return to a more market-driven norm unburdened by these costly taxes."

In March, China placed a 57% retaliatory tariff on US pork exports. Tariffs will be reduced by 10%. US pork exports to China in the first seven months of the year were down 13%, largely due to these retaliatory tariffs.

US Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the progress being made in trade negotiations with China is encouraging.

"If China follows through on its commitment to suspend all retaliatory tariffs announced since March 4, and to suspend or remove all retaliatory non-tariff countermeasures taken since that date, this puts US pork in a much more competitive position in the Chinese market. If the removal of non-tariff barriers means that China will promptly renew the US beef plant and cold storage registrations it has allowed to expire over the past nine months, this will restore access to a critical beef export market. China's recent delisting of some US beef plants for technical violations is also a retaliatory measure that must be addressed. We are anxious to see further details on these issues," Halstrom said.

"USMEF also appreciates the one-year pause in port service fees and China's countermeasures imposed on US vessels. While USMEF is supportive of the Trump administration's efforts to revitalise America's maritime industry, we encourage an approach that stimulates investment and avoids increasing costs for US exporters and cargo owners."

- The National Hog Farmer