Canada resumes imports from Smithfield’s largest U.S. pork plant
The suspension, which lasted about a week, affected offal shipments but was not linked to tariffs.
CANADA – Canada has lifted a temporary ban on imports from Smithfield Foods’ Tar Heel, North Carolina, pork-processing plant after halting shipments for roughly a week, the company confirmed on Friday.
The pause in exports, which lasted from March 6 to March 12, limited market access for U.S. pork at a time when farmers are already concerned about the impact of trade disputes with key buyers such as Mexico, Canada, and China.
Smithfield CEO Shane Smith clarified that the suspension was due to an issue with offal products at the border and had nothing to do with tariffs.
Company spokesperson Jim Monroe explained that Canada’s decision to block imports was linked to a “limited number” of specific offal shipments.
Pork items produced at the facility after March 12 are once again eligible for export to Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Trade Disruptions Affect U.S. Pork Industry
Canada ranked as the fifth-largest buyer of U.S. pork in the past year, with purchases totaling approximately US$850 million.
However, broader uncertainty remains in the U.S. pork industry due to ongoing trade tensions.
According to USDA data released Thursday, U.S. pork export sales dropped significantly in early March, with shipments for the week ending March 6 amounting to 20,262 metric tons—the lowest volume recorded this year and a 52% decline from the previous week.
Concerns about trade barriers are growing, particularly as hundreds of U.S. meat plants that were granted access to China under a 2020 trade deal will lose export eligibility.
China, the world’s largest pork consumer, previously increased import levies on US$21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products in response to U.S. tariffs.
Dan Norcini, an independent livestock trader, noted that any news suggesting improved export prospects—even if related to offal—can help ease negative market sentiment.
On Friday, lean hog futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange showed gains.
Tariffs Complicate Global Pork Sales
Smithfield, the largest pork processor in the U.S., faces increasing challenges in selling all parts of the pig due to shifting trade policies.
The company does not export large quantities of fresh pork to China but ships offal products such as pig stomachs, hearts, and heads, which are less commonly consumed in the U.S. CEO Shane Smith stated that despite higher tariffs, China remains the primary market for these items.
Speaking during a Bank of America event, Smith emphasized the difficulty of finding buyers for every part of the pig when tariffs come into play.
He also highlighted the additional complications caused by fluctuating exchange rates.
Smithfield also imports piglets from Canada, and trade restrictions could impact U.S. pork production costs.
Meanwhile, the company continues to monitor potential challenges related to labor shortages and employment costs amid changing immigration policies.
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