China trade obstacles impacting beef and pork exports

Due in part to a sharp decline in shipments to China, April exports of U.S. beef and pork trended lower than a year ago, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said that while China’s retaliatory duties are a major headwind for both U.S. beef and pork, beef exporters face an additional obstacle: China has failed to renew establishment registrations for U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities, the majority of which expired in mid-March.

Halstrom said pork exports faced a similar issue with China, but they made up for that slightly by shining in Latin America.

Additionally, lamb exports- which go mainly to Mexico and the Caribbean- trended higher in April. Halstrom said that underutilized lamb cuts from the breast and shoulder are increasingly popular in Mexico.