USMEF provides update at CattleCon on regaining beef’s access to China

During the 2026 CattleCon, leaders from the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) met with producers from across the nation, where they answered the cattle industry’s top questions about regaining beef access in China.

According to Erin Borror, vice president of economic analysis at USMEF, little progress has been made regarding the issue.

“Unfortunately for China, we don't have any type of breakthrough news but just explaining to the producers the situation there and the complicated market closure that we're dealing with,” she said. “But also explaining further the importance of the China market, and that we still need to get that market back, including in this time in the cattle cycle, and the need to be able to export, even with relatively low supplies. We've got to have that market to be able to add value back to the whole industry.”

China continues to refuse to renew registrations for US beef processing plants and cold storage facilities. Since March, the majority of US beef production has been locked out of China.

USMEF Chair Jay Theiler of Agri Beef Co. recently visited Washington, DC, along with other USMEF leaders to discuss the importance of regaining access to China. USMEF met with officials from the US Department of Agriculture and the US Trade Representative.

Theiler said the government is fully engaged on the issue and understands the importance of the matter to US beef producers.