China has reinstated export licenses for several hundred U.S. beef processing facilities, including sites operated by Tyson Foods and Cargill, according to data released by Chinese customs authorities.
Over the previous year, more than 400 U.S. beef plants—approximately 65% of previously approved U.S. facilities—lost authorization to export to China when licenses originally granted between March 2020 and April 2021 were not renewed.
The lapse led to a significant downturn in beef shipments from the United States to China, with volumes dropping by nearly half and values falling 69% compared to the prior year, according to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation, which is based on figures from the USDA.
At its peak in 2022, U.S. beef sales to China reached a value of $1.7 billion.
The decision coincided with the summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Both leaders addressed trade as well as other key topics, including the Iran conflict and arms sales to Taiwan. Adding those were negotiations to uphold a trade truce agreed in October and initiatives to strengthen future trade and investment.
”It’s an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before,” said Trump at the Beijing summit.
Prominent American business executives, such as Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, also attended the bilateral meetings, which will be followed by a series of official events and engagements over two days.
