China to halt some U.S. chicken imports, other products as trade tensions escalate
The suspension targets specific American producers over health and quarantine concerns.
CHINA – China has suspended imports of poultry and sorghum from several U.S. companies in a move that intensifies the ongoing trade conflict between the two countries.
The Chinese General Administration of Customs announced that Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc. and Coastal Processing, LLC can no longer export chicken products to China, citing repeated detections of banned substances in the meat.
The decision also affects shipments of poultry meal made from animal by-products, with American Proteins Inc., Mountaire Farms, and Darling Ingredients Inc. barred from supplying the feed ingredient to the Chinese market.
In addition to poultry, China has revoked C&D (USA) Inc.’s license to export sorghum, referencing unresolved quarantine issues.
These suspensions come just days before China is scheduled to impose a sweeping 34% tariff on all imports from the United States, which is expected to begin on April 10.
U.S. Pork Sector Faces Pressure
The new import tax, which covers all U.S. goods, is anticipated to hit American pork exporters particularly hard.
China is one of the largest buyers of U.S. pork, and the additional cost could price American products out of the Chinese market.
With the tariff in place, U.S. pork may become too expensive for Chinese importers, who may start sourcing from suppliers in Europe or South America instead.
This shift could disrupt the pork supply chain across the United States, affecting producers, processors, and exporters alike.
Farmers already facing challenges from rising production costs and market uncertainty now risk losing access to one of their key international buyers.
Industry leaders have warned that the tariff will further squeeze profit margins and limit market opportunities at a time when stability is urgently needed.
There is growing pressure on U.S. trade officials to open dialogue with Chinese authorities and work toward a resolution before the new trade measures take full effect.
Without a swift agreement, U.S. producers fear long-term damage to export relationships that took years to build.
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