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Trade agreement in principle with China a “good first step for U.S. beef and pork exports”

The President and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation says the U.S. trade agreement in principle with China is good news for beef and pork exports.

Dan Halstrom says the deal significantly drops tariff rates for muscle cuts and variety meats. “Currently, we’re seeing US pork into China being tariffed at 172%,” he says.  “This 90-day agreement would take our total tariff rate down for most products, pork muscle cuts, and variety meats down to 57%.  On the beef side, we’re currently tariffed on US beef going into China at 147%.  This 90-day agreement would take the total tariff rate down to 32% for most beef, muscle cuts, and variety meats.”

But Halstrom tells Brownfield that beef still faces a non-tariff trade barrier that is preventing any U.S. beef from being exported to the country. “We still have an issue with the Chinese cipher system, which is the system of eligible plants for export to China,” he says. “The vast majority of the plants that were eligible prior are now ineligible. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.”

He says the US Trade Representative’s office and the USDA are making renewing the lapsed registrations for more than 400 facilities a priority.

Trade officials from the United States and China announced that the U.S. will reduce its tariffs on Chinese imports for 90 days, and China has agreed to reduce its retaliatory duties.

AUDIO: Dan Halstrom, US Meat Export Federation