China setback clouds outlook for US beef - USMEF
February exports drop 15% despite strong January start
30 April 2025
1 minute read
By: US beef exports to China/Hong Kong trended lower in February, falling 15% from a year ago to 15,415 mt, valued at $135.5 million (down 19%).
Because of a strong January performance, exports through February were still 5% above last year at 34,173 mt, though value fell slightly to $298.5 million.
Even more concerning is the fate of US exports to China moving forward, due to the aforementioned delay in China’s renewal of beef plant registrations.
China also imposed an additional 10% retaliatory duty on US beef on March 10, raising the effective tariff rate to 22%.
Effective April 10, China’s total duty rate is set to increase to 56%. US beef’s primary competitor in China – grain-fed beef from Australia – enjoys duty-free access under a bilateral trade agreement.
New Zealand beef is also duty-free, while most other suppliers are tariffed at 12%.
