US pork producers secure five-year market access to China

USA – After weeks of uncertainty, US pork producers received a major boost as China renewed export registrations for over 300 pork processing and cold storage facilities. 

The decision, announced by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) on March 17, extends their access to the Chinese market for another five years.

The registrations had either expired in late February or were set to lapse on March 16, leaving the industry uncertain about whether China would approve renewals. 

The announcement came as a relief to pork exporters, given China’s significance as a top destination for US pork products, particularly variety meats.

“US pork producers now have maintained access and increased certainty to export their products to the 1.4-billion-person Chinese market,” said Bryan Humphreys, CEO of NPPC. 

“NPPC’s leadership and focus on market access for US pork is paying off, and we’re not stopping here.”

China remains a crucial market, especially for offals, which yield higher value there compared to other destinations. 

In 2024 alone, US pork exports to China totaled over 367,000 tonnes, generating more than US$1.1 billion. More than half of all US pork variety meat exports—approximately 55%—were shipped to China.

Beef Industry Faces Uncertainty

While pork producers celebrate, the US beef industry is still awaiting a decision on its own facility registrations. 

As of March 16, 390 US beef plants had their export licenses expire, with no confirmation yet from Chinese authorities regarding renewals.

“We are hoping for similar news soon on the beef side, but for now the 390 US beef facilities that expired on March 16 have not yet been renewed,” said Joe Schuele, spokesperson for the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). 

“For the time being, we have advised exporters that beef produced prior to March 16 should clear customs, provided that importers had secured import quarantine permits before the deadline.”

According to USMEF, failure to secure renewals could cost the beef industry up to US$4.13 billion annually. 

Schuele explained that the potential loss not only affects direct exports to China but also reduces the premium prices US beef commands in other Asian markets like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, where competition from Chinese buyers influences pricing.

Trade Deal Expiration Raises Concerns

The registrations initially stemmed from a 2020 “Phase 1” trade deal negotiated under former President Donald Trump, which granted hundreds of US meat facilities access to China. 

Now, five years later, those agreements are up for renewal, raising concerns across the industry.

According to a Reuters report, nearly 1,000 US meat processing plants—including those owned by major companies like Tyson Foods and Cargill—had export registrations at stake. 

While the pork sector secured its renewals, the beef industry continues to wait, highlighting ongoing trade uncertainties between the two nations.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.