Tariff developments have created headwinds for the U.S. red meat trade.
April exports of beef and pork trended lower than a year ago, due in part to a sharp decline in shipments to China.
Dan Halstrom with the U.S. Meat Export Federation spoke with RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender about the recent data, trade hurdles with China, and negotiations moving forward.
Related Stories
The USDA is moving to close the farm trade gap through promotion, missions, and stronger export financing.
The three-point plan was announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
Higher tariffs may shield some U.S. crops but risk retaliation, lost markets, and higher costs for growers. The WTO disputes highlight the fragile balance between trade policy, farm exports, and input supply chains.
Producers and processors should watch trade policy closely as tariff impacts ripple through seafood markets.
Farmers await concrete trade commitments from China. Until then, export prospects for soybeans, corn, and sorghum remain uncertain against strong South American competition.
U.S. trade talks with China resume, but meat industry leaders say dealing with shifting demand and market uncertainty is nothing new in this side of the ag sector.