Imports and Exports
After more than a year of waiting, China granted 5-year registration extensions to 425 U.S. beef plants and added new approvals. The move follows Trump–Xi talks in China this week, signaling a trade breakthrough.
Trump administration pauses announcement of new strategies to address record beef prices and support rebuilding the domestic cattle herd.
Today’s market is evolving, not just correcting, according to ag economists. To win the long game, farmers are using generics and delaying machinery purchases as trade shifts to allies and consumers demand premium meat portions.
A new reciprocal trade agreement with Ecuador is set to transform a minimal market into a promising opportunity for U.S. beef and pork producers.
New trade agreement with Taiwan eliminates barriers and expands market access for U.S. beef and pork exports.
Pork exports on track for top-three year despite slight November dip. Meanwhile, beef finds momentum in the Middle East, according to the latest U.S. Meat Export Federation report.
Oklahoma State’s Peel says increased beef imports are the expected market response to declining U.S. beef production, especially decreased production of nonfed processing beef.
While U.S. beef production fell 3.9% to 11.8 million tons in 2025, Brazil’s beef production surprisingly increased. Rabobank, for example, expected a decline, but now sees 0.5% growth to 12.5 million tons carcass weight equivalent in Brazil.
U.S. agricultural exporters depend on the binding nature of USMCA provisions to access its closest markets and make sales, lawmakers wrote in a letter to Ambassador Greer.
August data showed a relatively strong performance for U.S. pork exports. But beef exports were sharply lower than a year ago, impacted heavily by an impasse with China that has effectively locked U.S. beef out of the world’s largest import market.
Customers crave the quality and consistency of U.S. pork, beef and lamb. That is helping the industry overcome market challenges, explained USMEF’s Dan Halstrom at the USMEF Conference in Indianapolis.
U.S. pork and beef variety meats are winning in Mexico. Here’s why.
USMCA has been a boon for the American meat, livestock and poultry sector, along with the broader American food and agriculture economy and ancillary industries, The Meat Institute says in comments to the USTR.
Meat Institute report analyzes the state of beef cattle markets and points out current pricing myths.
Justin Tupper, United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) president, joins AgriTalk to discuss the state of the beef market, focusing on recent comments by President Donald Trump and the impact of beef imports.
The Farm Action co-founder says it’s time for agriculture to face an uncomfortable truth. From cattle to crops, American agriculture must rebuild from the ground up or face a tough reality: U.S. agriculture no longer feeds the world.
Landmark deals demonstrate that America can maintain tariffs to shrink the goods trade deficit while opening new markets for U.S. farmers, says Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
President Trump suggests purchasing Argentina beef could bring beef prices down.
Industry leaders expect continued momentum for Brazilian meat exports through year-end, supported by resilient demand and expanding access to strategic markets.
Market access obstacles continued to weigh heavily on exports of U.S. beef, while pork exports accounted for a larger share of production, USMEF says.
The European Union will provide preferential market access for pork, has committed to streamlining requirements for U.S. pork sanitary certificates, and intends to address other non-tariff barriers affecting agricultural trade.
USMEF’s Dan Halstrom says it wasn’t that long ago that the U.S. was at a severe disadvantage with Japan tariff wise.
The Trump administration announces trade breakthroughs giving U.S. beef producers greater access to Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Used skid steers, wheel loaders and excavating equipment are starting to draw strong bids as farmers build out fleets, and learn how one startup auction company is making inroads into the overseas export market.
USMEF shares May export data. While exports to China decreased steeply, Korea and Latin America and other countries increased compared to 2024.
On a more hopeful note, some industry analysts believe the number has reached its peak and will start to move down this summer. Certainly, some trade deals that would open markets for U.S. ag products would help.
After a record performance in 2024, U.S. beef exports to Central America are reaching new heights again this year.