NPPC Protests China’s ‘Persistent’ Non-Tariff Pork Barriers

China has a long-standing ranking among the most lucrative destinations for U.S. pork; however, the country’s non-tariff barriers disrupt what could be an even larger market, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) complained in a letter to trade officials in Washington.

Despite a dip of 6% in volume (mostly due to a decline in muscle cuts), U.S. pork exports to China last year were second behind only Mexico at 467,227 metric tons (mt), and worth more than $1.1 billion dollars.

China’s importance is even more central as a buyer of pork variety meats — receiving two-thirds of all such exports worldwide. China bought 59% of U.S. variety meat exports last year, with Mexico as the only other major market.

“Exports of feet, heads, stomachs, hearts, etc., add value to every pig produced in the U.S,” Maria Zieba, NPPC vice president of government affairs, said in the letter to the Office of United States Trade Representative (USTR). “There is no alternative market to take the volume and value of U.S. pork variety meat as is demanded by China, which is why ensuring that China adheres to WTO commitments is of critical importance to NPPC.”

The USTR is holding a hearing Oct. 7 for public comment on China’s compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. NPPC has requested a slot to air its grievances on behalf of the U.S. pork industry.