China has renewed export registrations for hundreds of U.S. pork and poultry facilities, according to industry groups. The renewal follows the expiration of previous registrations in February, ensuring continued trade between the two nations.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation and the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council confirmed that China granted five-year renewals for pork and poultry facilities, while registrations for U.S. beef plants have yet to be updated.
The renewal process had created uncertainty for U.S. exporters, as shipments from facilities with lapsed registrations continued to be cleared through customs, though it was unclear how long that would last.
“We were on pins and needles for a while,” said Greg Tyler, CEO of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, emphasizing the importance of maintaining access to the Chinese market.
Under Chinese regulations, foreign food exporters must be registered with customs to sell products in the country. More than 1,000 U.S. meat plants had registrations granted under the 2020 “Phase 1” trade deal, which expired recently. The agreement, aimed at increasing China’s purchases of U.S. goods, was signed to ease previous trade tensions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture had previously stated that repeated requests for renewal had gone unanswered, raising concerns about potential trade disruptions.
“We’re pleased to see progress on the pork facilities and hoping for similar news on beef as soon as possible,” said Joe Schuele, spokesperson for the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
China remains a key market for U.S. meat exports. In 2024, the U.S. was China’s third-largest meat supplier by volume, following Brazil and Argentina, accounting for 9% of China’s total meat imports. U.S. meat exports to China reached $2.5 billion last year, making it the second-largest supplier by value.
While U.S. poultry exports have been affected by avian influenza outbreaks, China remains an important market. Industry representatives noted that the renewed registrations would help maintain trade stability in the sector.
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