U.S. Meat Exports To China Face Setback As Key Plant Registrations Expire

U.S. meat exports to China are facing a significant setback as registrations for over 1,000 U.S. meat plants under the 2020 “Phase 1” trade agreement expired on Sunday, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. The lapse in registration impacts facilities across the U.S. that process pork, beef, and poultry, including those operated by industry giants such as Tyson Foods, Smithfield Packaged Meats, and Cargill Meat Solutions.

The expiration of these registrations, which affects approximately two-thirds of the total registered U.S. facilities, poses a serious threat to U.S. meat shipments, potentially restricting access to China’s vast market. Experts estimate that the expiration could result in losses of up to $5 billion, further complicating the situation for American farmers already grappling with Beijing’s recent imposition of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. farm goods.

The lapse comes after similar registrations for around 84 U.S. plants expired in February, although shipments from these facilities continue to clear customs. However, the future of these exports remains uncertain, as China has not clarified how long it will allow these shipments to proceed. For U.S. exporters, the situation underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date registration with Chinese customs, as Beijing requires food exporters to secure approval in order to sell their products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that China has not responded to multiple requests to renew these registrations, which some argue could be a violation of the Phase 1 trade agreement. Under the terms of that deal, China was obligated to update its list of approved plants within 20 days of receiving updates from the USDA, a timeline that has not been met.

In 2024, the U.S. was China’s third-largest meat supplier by volume, after Brazil and Argentina, contributing 590,000 tons, or 9% of China’s total meat imports. U.S. meat shipments to China were valued at $2.5 billion last year, making the U.S. the second-largest exporter to the country by value. A loss of access to China would be particularly damaging for exporters of specialized products like chicken feet and pork offal, which are less consumed in the U.S. but highly sought after in China.

Smithfield Foods CEO Shane Smith recently highlighted the challenges tariffs have posed to the U.S. pork industry, noting that they have made it increasingly difficult for processors like Smithfield to sell all parts of a pig. While Smithfield does not export significant quantities of meat to China, the company ships offal products such as pig stomachs, hearts, and heads, which are in demand in the Chinese market.

The expiration of these registrations marks another chapter in the ongoing tariff standoff between the U.S. and China, which continues to strain trade relations and impact American agricultural exports.