U.S. red meat processing plant registrations for exports to China implemented under the Phase I trade agreement of 2020 expired at mid-month. However, China started the past week by renewing its registrations for more than 360 U.S. pork processing plants, maintaining their access to the Chinese market. U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom says this is significant. “If you look at the pork variety meat side in particular, China by far is our largest destination for those items and if there was any interruption of business the potential loss is between $8 and $10 per head per hog slaughter.” At this point, beef processing registrations have not been renewed.
