What is the outlook for meat exports in 2025?

We have had a solid year, once again, for red meat exports in 2024. Many folks are working hard behind the scenes to sustain and strengthen our existing markets and putting the same efforts into cultivating new trade opportunities around the globe. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) does much of this work. They have been a strong force in the global marketplace. 2024 was a record year for pork exports and the second-highest year for beef export values.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom stopped by to discuss what they are considering for the future of red meat marketing in 2025.

It starts, first and foremost, with what we are going to be seeing coming out of the White House. Trump 2.0 has been bandying about the fact that he wants to put tariffs on all incoming products to the United States. This would mean a retaliatory scenario in which agriculture is the likely target. It is a good place to twist the knife in the American economy. It also goes after a large percentage of his voter base. Halstrom talks about the momentum that our meat exports have had this year.