U.S. Meat Export Federation - USMEF

Red Meat Exports Add Over $3 Billion in Value to U.S. Corn and Soybeans in 2025

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:05:41 GMT

U.S. red meat exports emerged as a multi-billion dollar engine for domestic grain producers in 2025, adding more than $3 billion in combined market value to corn and soybean crops. According to a new study by the Juday Group and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the global demand for American beef and pork accounted for over 600 million bushels of grain usage, effectively boosting the price of corn by $0.58 per bushel and soybeans by $1.05 per bushel.

“Red meat exports bring significant value to corn and soybean producers by driving demand for feed,” says USMEF Chair-Elect Dave Bruntz, who raises corn, soybeans and cattle in south-central Nebraska. “This study shows that red meat exports accounted for more than 500 million bushels of corn usage and nearly 100 million bushels of soybeans in 2025.”

From a national perspective, U.S. beef and pork exports accounted for $2.18 billion in market value to corn producers in 2025, $1 billion to soybean producers and $375 million to distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), according to the study. U.S. beef and pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 13.5% per bushel to the value of corn and 10.3% per bushel to soybeans in 2025.

“We initiate this study every year because it quantifies the value that beef and pork exports bring to the red meat supply chain. This added value is why a diverse range of ag industry sectors work together through USMEF to build global demand for U.S. red meat,” says USMEF Senior Vice President John Hinners.

Key findings from the study, which utilized 2025 statistics provided by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and data compiled by the Juday Group, include:

Exporting corn through U.S. beef and pork

Beef and pork exports accounted for 508.4 million bushels of U.S. corn usage, which equated to a market value of $2.18 billion (at an average 2025 corn price of $4.29 per bushel).
Beef and pork exports accounted for 2.68 million tons of DDGS usage, equating to $374.7 million (at an average price of $139.82 per ton in 2025).
Beef and pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 13.5%, or $0.58, of bushel value at an average price of $4.29 per bushel in 2025.

Exporting soybeans through U.S. pork

Pork exports accounted for 98.8 million bushels of U.S. soybean usage, which equated to a market value of $1 billion (at an average price of $10.17 per bushel in 2025).
Pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 10.3% of bushel value, or $1.05, at an average price of $10.17 per bushel in 2025.

The Next Guatemala? USMEF Sees Massive Upside for U.S. Beef and Pork in Ecuador

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:22:33 GMT

Ecuador recently became the ninth country to sign an agreement on reciprocal trade with the U.S. And while it will take some time to implement, once in place, the deal will greatly expand opportunities for U.S. beef and pork in Ecuador, according to U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President for Economic Analysis Erin Borror.

Tariffs of 20% on beef and 45% on pork are mostly phased out, although there are exceptions on pork.
A 30% tariff on processed pork products which will remain in place.
The agreement recognizes all USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspected facilities as eligible for export to Ecuador, removing the need for individual facility approvals.

“The tariff on beef is basically 20% and that’s phased to zero in the agreement over three years,” Borror explains. “For pork, tariffs of 45% are mostly phased out. There are some exceptions on further processed products and sausages that will see tariffs remain at 30%.”

Borror says one of the key wins in these reciprocal trade agreements is getting countries to recognize FSIS, the U.S. food safety authority, as the competent authority.

“They will recognize all FSIS-inspected facilities as eligible to export, rather than going through onerous questionnaires, plant-by-plant audits and maintaining plant lists which have gotten to be unmanageable,” she says.

Borror expects export growth to be similar to what was seen in Guatemala after passage of the Central America Free Trade Agreement.

“Both of those countries have a population of close to 18 million people,” she says. “Their GDP per capita is somewhere close to $7,000, so very similar. And if we take Guatemala, U.S. beef export growth from 2006 to 2025, saw growth from $3 million to $105 million. For pork, the market went from $10 million to $148 million.”

In 2025, the U.S. exported virtually no pork to Ecuador and only $3 million in beef. She says there is great potential in Ecuador.

A Trade Win for Beef and Pork: U.S. and Taiwan Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Trade

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:31:22 GMT

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the signing of an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the United States and Taiwan that includes significant market access gains for U.S. red meat.

“The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with Taiwan will eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers facing U.S. exports to Taiwan, furthering opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, fishermen, workers, small businesses and manufacturers,” Ambassador Jamieson Greer said . “This agreement also builds on our longstanding economic and trade relationship with Taiwan and will significantly enhance the resilience of our supply chains, particularly in high-technology sectors.”

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins praised the agreement on X, saying this will open up real markets and boost opportunities for rural communities.

New trade deal with our partner, Taiwan!
🇺🇸🤝🇹🇼

THANK YOU @POTUS and @USTradeRep. Under the new U.S.–Taiwan Reciprocal Trade Agreement, Taiwan is cutting or eliminating tariffs on nearly all U.S. agricultural exports — from animal protein like beef, pork, and dairy to corn,… https://t.co/44xmlzP04o
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) February 13, 2026

U.S. Beef’s Potential to Grow Export Opportunities
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says this will strengthen one of the most important and fastest-growing markets for U.S. beef. Taiwan is the fifth largest market for U.S. beef, with exports valued at about $650 million, and the U.S. is the largest supplier of beef to Taiwan.

“There is still potential for further growth with the increased access for all U.S. beef products, including those in high demand for yakiniku barbecue and trendy burger concepts,” U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said. “The elimination of tariffs on U.S. beef will definitely improve our competitiveness.”

Foreign markets play a critical role in producer profitability with beef exports accounting for more than $415 per fed cattle processed in 2024, NCBA President Gene Copenhaver explained.

“Strong, science-based trade agreements are essential to adding value for U.S. cattle producers, and Taiwan has emerged as one of the strongest international markets for U.S. beef,” Copenhaver said. “Duty-free access improves competitiveness and provides long-term certainty for producers who depend on export markets to maximize the value of every animal. American cattle producers look forward to this expanded market access for years to come thanks to the work of President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer.”

Securing Greater Market Access for U.S. Pork
It’s also a step forward for the U.S. pork industry as U.S. pork has been “widely disadvantaged in Taiwan,” USMEF said. The EU and Canada currently dominate Taiwan’s pork imports.

“USMEF is optimistic that reducing both tariffs and nontariff barriers will help enable larger U.S. pork exports to Taiwan, as USMEF remains focused on regaining Taiwanese consumer trust in U.S. pork,” USMEF said.

Organizations say this trade deal reinforces science-based standards consistent with the World Organization for Animal Health and Codex Alimentarius.

“I would like to thank President Trump and Ambassadors Greer and Callahan for their hard work,” said Lori Stevermer, a Minnesota pig farmer. “This agreement stands to boost U.S. pork exports by cutting tariffs in half. It also requires Taiwan to follow maximum residue levels (MRLs) set by Codex for ractopamine in pork fat, kidney, liver and muscle. While not always as obvious as a tariff reduction, by accepting USDA FSIS inspections, audits and export certificates, this agreement reduces the nontariff barriers we face and allows opportunities for more plants to export pork. Overall, U.S. pig farmers will have greater market access to a country that loves pork and that’s good for our farms and businesses.”

Additionally, within six months Taiwan must recognize the African swine fever protection zone established by the U.S.

“Our 15-plus year endeavor to break down trade barriers in the high-value market of Taiwan has paid off,” said NPPC president Duane Stateler, an Ohio pork producer. “This means more U.S. pork on international tables and more opportunities and prosperity for American producers.”

Read the Fact Sheet on U.S.-Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade

Pork Exports Hold Strong While China Lockout Drags Down Beef Volume

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:01:33 GMT

Exports of U.S. pork remained relatively strong in November but were below the large total reported in November 2024, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports were significantly lower year-over-year, due in large part to the ongoing lockout by China.

Broad-Based Strength Continues for U.S. Pork Exports

“For the month of November, we saw over $70 per head value in pork exports,” says USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Latin America continues to shine, led by Mexico. It’s on a definite record pace, and has been all year, and we saw another big month in November.”

Central America has already set a record, Halstrom adds. Pork exports to Guatemala were a “record large” in November and the Dominican Republic saw the largest export month in more than a year. All in all, these results were offset by lower shipments to China, Japan, Canada and Colombia. He says most of this decline was due to lower variety meat shipments to China, where U.S. pork faces retaliatory duties.

“Over the last several months, Korea has had a comeback from earlier in the year,” he reports. “I think all in all, continued broad-based strength on pork exports, continues to be the theme. We’re going to finish out the year when we get to December data with, maybe not a record, but it will be one of the top two or three years ever for pork exports.”

Key U.S. Pork Export Highlights in November

Exports of U.S. pork totaled 254,085 metric tons (mt) in November, down 7% from a year ago but the third largest of 2025.
Exports were valued at $720.8 million, down 8% year-over-year but also the third highest of 2025.
For January through November, pork exports totaled 2.68 million mt, down 3% from the record pace of 2024, while value also fell 3% to $7.65 billion.
January-November exports of pork muscle cuts were just 1% below 2024’s record pace in both volume (2.19 million mt) and value ($6.57 billion).
While down slightly from a year ago, November pork export value per head slaughtered was outstanding at $70.26.
The January-November average was $65.54, down less than 1% from the record pace of 2024.

Beef Exports Take a Step Back in November

“Following an encouraging rebound the previous month, November beef exports took a step back, falling 19% from a year ago to 88,139 mt,” Halstrom says. “The decline was driven primarily by China, where exports remain minimal due to China’s failure to renew registrations for U.S. beef plants and other market-closing factors, but beef exports also trended lower year-over-year to Korea, Mexico, Canada and Taiwan.”

Halstrom says exports were steady to Japan.

“Japan’s had several months in a row with very good results, once again, led by the variety meat side - tongue business, outside skirts, hanging tenders as well saw volumes that were up significantly,” he notes. “But outside of Asia, there’s some other bright spots as well.”

He just returned from Gulfood in Dubai, where U.S. beef exports had a big month into the United Arab Emirates.

“A year ago, we basically were delisted as a country due to some protocols around the import procedures with halal. And that’s all been worked out, and we’re seeing some really good momentum back into, not only the UAE, but the business is booming in food service, especially into regions such as Egypt,” he reports.

Notable U.S. Beef Export Takeaways in November

Export value was down 16% to $736.7 million.
November exports increased year-over-year to Indonesia, Chile, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Colombia, and were fairly steady to Japan.
For January through November, beef exports totaled 1.04 million mt, down 12% from the same period in 2024.
Export value was $8.52 billion, down 11%. But when excluding China from these results, exports were down 3% year-over-year in volume and were just 1% lower in value.

A detailed summary of the January-November export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb is available here.

October Pork Exports Largest Since March; Encouraging Rebound for Beef

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:50:19 GMT

U.S. pork exports continued to build momentum in October, led by a record performance in leading market Mexico, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While beef exports remained lower year-over-year, shipments rebounded to some degree in October, posting the largest totals since June.

Record-large shipments to Mexico fuel strong October pork exports

Pork exports totaled 264,657 metric tons (mt) in October, up 5% from a year ago, valued at $762.1 million (up 7%). Both volume and value were the largest since March, led by substantial growth in Mexico and year-over-year increases to Central America, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. In addition to Mexico, October shipments were also record-large to Honduras and Guatemala.

January-October pork exports reached 2.43 million mt, just 2% below the record pace of 2024. Export value was also down 2% to $6.93 billion. The year-over-year difference is mostly due to a 20% decline in exports to China (which are mainly variety meats), where U.S. pork is subject to burdensome retaliatory duties.

Bright spots for October beef exports include Japan, Taiwan, Caribbean, Colombia

Beef exports totaled 93,448 mt in October, down 11% year-over-year but the largest since June and 16% above the low volume posted in September. Export value was also the highest since June at $759.5 million, down 12% from a year ago but 15% above September. October beef exports increased year-over-year to Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the ASEAN region and the Dominican Republic, while also jumping sharply to Colombia. But these gains were more than offset by lack of access to China, which has reduced exports to minimal volumes for the past several months. For markets other than China, October beef exports were up 5% year-over-year in volume and up 7% in value.

January-October beef exports totaled 949,471 mt, down 11% from the 2024 pace, while value was down 10% to $7.79 billion. When excluding China from these results, exports were down 3% in volume and just 1% in value compared to the first 10 months of 2024.

“The latest export data confirm what I consistently hear from customers across the world and from our international staff – that global demand for U.S. red meat remains robust, despite tight supplies and formidable market access barriers,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Obviously, regaining access for U.S. beef in China is our most urgent priority, as industry losses from this lockout are enormous. But we are also hopeful that ongoing trade negotiations will remove barriers in other destinations where consumers have a growing appetite for high-quality red meat.”

October lamb exports trend lower

Exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts totaled 161 mt in October, down 12% year-over-year, while value fell 6% to $971,000. October shipments declined to the Caribbean but increased to Mexico and Central America. January-October exports were still up 40% year-over-year in volume (2,340 mt) and 27% higher in value ($12.65 million), led by growth in Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Panama.

A detailed summary of the January-October export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available here .

Farmers Need the Certainty Provided Under USMCA More Than Ever, Lawmakers Say

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:31:32 GMT

The benefits of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are hard to deny. Kenneth Smith Ramos, a former lead negotiator for the Mexican government who was deeply involved in the negotiation and ratification of USMCA, discussed the mutual benefits USMCA has delivered for the agricultural sectors in both the U.S. and Mexico during the recent USMEF Strategic Planning Conference. Not only has the agreement enhanced food security in both countries, but he said it has also bolstered the profitability of many agricultural sectors through free trade.

The U.S., Canada and Mexico are scheduled for a joint review of the trade agreement in July. Smith, who is now a partner in the regulatory and trade consulting firm AGON, says the possible outcomes of the USMCA review range from a very limited review to the threat of “rupture” if the agreement is reopened and the U.S. threatens to withdraw. He said he anticipates something in between, with portions of USMCA – some of which may be contentious – opened up for renegotiation.

“We see a complex USMCA review, but we do not see a scenario where there is an imminent collapse of the agreement,” Smith said during the conference. “There will be turbulence, but we do not see the plane crashing.”

Smith added that it is critical for the U.S., Mexican and Canadian agricultural sectors to remain vigilant in explaining the benefits of USMCA and the importance of maintaining it as a trilateral pact.

Much Needed Certainty

Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus cochairs Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Adrian Smith (R-NE) led more than 100 members of the House of Representatives in urging the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to “carefully” examine changes to USMCA.

“USMCA was truly a landmark agreement for American Agriculture when it entered force, and its positive impact on U.S. agriculture has yet to reach its maximum benefit,” the members wrote. “At a time when economic challenges threaten the livelihood of family farms, producers need the certainty provided under USMCA more than ever.”

In the Nov. 20 letter to USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the lawmakers said the outcome of the review should advance American agriculture and food production. They asked the trade agency to “work closely with Congress and consider the significant positive impact North American trade has on our communities. Any changes to the agreement should be carefully examined to ensure U.S. agriculture is not negatively impacted.”

Lawmakers pointed out that USMCA streamlined compliance measures and harmonized regulations, thereby generating cost savings for U.S. farmers, producers, and ranchers. In 2024, the U.S. was the world’s largest agricultural exporter, with total ag exports valued at $176 billion.

“The agriculture section of the USMCA provides much needed certainty within North America through its tough and effective rules on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, agricultural biotechnology, intellectual property, and technical barriers to trade,” the letter said. “U.S. agricultural exporters depend on the binding nature of these provisions to access our closest markets and make sales, which has directly benefited the farmers, ranchers, and producers that we represent. Further, these rules-based, science-driven commitments set a strong example for other trading partners hoping to achieve similar access to the U.S. market.”

Earlier this month, the National Pork Producers Council and more than 125 agriculture and food organizations also urged USTR to be cautious in making changes to USMCA, which they said has facilitated and streamlined the flow of commerce throughout the three countries. The positive impact USMCA has had on U.S. agriculture, they added, “has yet to reach its maximum benefit. At a time when economic challenges threaten the livelihood of family farms, producers need the certainty provided under USMCA more than ever.”

“U.S. pork producers export over 25% of their pork,” NPPC noted in Capital Update. “With Mexico and Canada as their first and fourth largest export markets, respectively, USMCA has provided continuity and removed market uncertainty in those markets.”

Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation pointed out that USMCA has delivered real value for America’s dairy farmers.

“While several dairy compliance issues remain to be addressed in the 2026 Joint Review, the duty-free trade into Mexico that USMCA preserved has allowed U.S. dairy exporters to partner with Mexico to meet growing demand,” Doud said.

Read More:
No Trade Agreement Can Boast the Success of USMCA, The Meat Institute Says

Pork Exports Remain Strong in August; Beef Decline Continues

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:21:39 GMT

USDA has released August red meat export data, which was delayed due to the lengthy government shutdown. As compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), 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.

August pork exports totaled 236,311 metric tons (mt), down 1% from a year ago, valued at $685.9 million (down 2%). August exports were bolstered by another remarkable performance by leading market Mexico, where shipments climbed 8% from a year ago to 102,790 mt, the fifth largest volume on record. Export value reached $252.3 million, up 9% and the second highest on record, trailing only December 2024.

For January through August, pork exports were 3% below last year’s record pace in both volume (1.93 million mt) and value ($5.48 billion). This gap is mostly attributable to lower exports to China, where U.S. pork faces retaliatory tariffs. This situation was especially disruptive in the spring months, when tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China temporarily escalated and there was growing uncertainty about the continued eligibility of U.S. plants. While this situation has since stabilized, China’s total tariff on U.S. pork and most pork variety meat had been 57% until Nov. 10, when it was reduced to 47%.

August beef exports totaled 83,388 mt, down 19% from a year ago and the lowest since June 2020. Export value fell 18% to $695.5 million, the lowest since February 2021. While exports to China plummeted, shipments were fairly steady to leading market South Korea and trended higher than a year ago to the Caribbean and Central and South America.

For January through August, beef exports were 9.5% below last year at 775,188 mt, while value declined 9% to $6.37 billion.

Mexico and Central America continue to shine for U.S. pork

Pork exports to Mexico continue to reach new heights in 2025, with January-August shipments climbing 3% above last year’s record pace in volume (781,605 mt) and 6% higher in value ($1.78 billion). The leading destination for U.S. pork is increasingly competitive, with Brazil’s pork shipments to Mexico (through October) increasing 64% from a year ago to nearly 64,000 mt. However, Brazil still captured less than 5% market share, while U.S. market share is about 80%.

August pork exports to Central America also trended higher, keeping shipments to the region on a record pace. Through August, pork exports to Central America totaled 118,257 mt, up 22% from last year’s record. Value soared 25% to $377.5 million, led by robust growth in Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Pork exports to Colombia took a step back in August, falling 29% from last year’s very robust totals in both volume (9,418 mt) and value ($28 million). But January-August shipments to Colombia were still on a record pace, increasing 9% to 85,707 mt, valued at $245.4 million (up 11%).

Among other markets, August pork exports trended higher than a year ago to Korea, the Caribbean, Australia and the Philippines. Shipments were below last year to China, Japan, Canada, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Pork export value equated to $67.74 per head slaughtered in August, up 5% from a year ago, while the January-August average was $65.55 per head, down 1%. Exports accounted for 31% of total August pork production, up two full percentage points from a year ago. For muscle cuts only, the ratio exported was about one percentage point higher at 26.3%. For January through August, exports accounted for just under 30% of total production, down slightly from a year ago. The ratio of muscle cuts exported was steady at 26.1%.

Some bright spots for beef, but impasse with China weighs heavily on exports

With U.S. beef facing a multi-layered lockout in China, export results have worsened throughout 2025 as supplies of eligible product were depleted and more plants were suspended in June and August. Exports sank to just 862 mt in August, down 94% from a year ago. For January through August, exports to China were 52% below last year in volume (56,494 mt) and 53% lower in value ($484.2 million). The accumulated decline in exports for January through October is estimated at $832 million, as September and October exports are also certain to be minimal. As USMEF has previously reported, China has failed to renew registrations for the vast majority of U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities. But renewing these registrations is just one of the steps necessary to restore access for U.S. beef in China, where 16 U.S. plants have been suspended since June and 30 facilities have been suspended since 2022. For China to return to its commitments under the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement, it must address all of the barriers obstructing access for U.S. beef.

August beef exports to leading market Korea were slightly below last year in volume, falling 1.5% to 16,823 mt. But export value still increased 3% to $168 million. For January through August, exports to Korea increased 8% from a year ago in volume (162,907 mt) and 9% in value ($1.55 billion).

Beef exports to Central America posted another strong performance in August, climbing 5% from a year ago to 1,512 mt, while value soared 50% to $17 million. Led by robust growth in Guatemala and Costa Rica, January-August beef exports to the region are on a record pace, reaching 14,520 mt, up 6% from a year ago, while value climbed 34% to $134.2 million.

Among other markets, August beef exports trended higher than a year ago to the Caribbean region, led by growth in the Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Jamaica, and to South America, led by growth in Chile (where exports have been above year-ago levels in each of the past six months) and a rebound in Colombia. Exports were also higher to Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, Europe and Morocco, but trended lower to Japan, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan and the Middle East.

Beef export value equated to $372.10 per head of fed slaughter in August, down 5% from a year ago. The January-August average was $400.16 per head, down 3.5% from the same period last year. Exports accounted for 12.1% of total August beef production and 9.8% for muscle cuts only – each down about one percentage point from a year ago. The January-August ratios were 13.1% of total production and 11% for muscle cuts, down from 13.9% and 11.6%, respectively, during the same period last year.

Full January-August export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb are available from USMEF’s statistics web page .

Jay Theiler Elected Chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:07:38 GMT

Jay Theiler, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Agri Beef Company, was elected chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) during the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference on Nov. 14. Theiler, based in Boise, Idaho, will serve as chairman for the 2025-26 term.

During the conference, Theiler recalled his early days with Agri Beef, when the company came to realize that it could not maximize the value of each head of livestock processed by selling product only in the Pacific Northwest, or even in the entire U.S.

“To get maximum value, we had to go to the international markets and include them in our sales,” Theiler said. “I did a lot of overseas trips in the early 2000s and many subsequent trips that laid the foundation for our success. When we traveled to Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, we would meet with USMEF staff, who would paint a landscape of the distributors in the market and help us set up appointments and meetings. USMEF was really an integral part of our company story and our brand story. And I tell you this today because it may serve as an inspiration for others on how to grow your business and how USMEF can help.”

Looking forward, Theiler said differentiating the quality of U.S. red meat is essential to continued expansion of the global customer base.

“The world doesn’t just buy U.S. meat because it’s available – they buy it because it’s exceptional,” he said. “Our U.S. red meat brand means something – it is the gold standard for quality, taste, safety, sustainability and reliability. Our beef, pork and lamb is sought out as incomes around the world grow. But we can’t take this for granted and we must continue to invest in international marketing, especially as our global competitors increase their quality and aim to compete with us.”

While emphasizing the need to diversify export destinations, Theiler also noted the importance of defending hard-earned market share with established trading partners.

“We cannot take our long-standing partners for granted,” Theiler said. “Markets like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Mexico are vital and have been reliable trading partners for decades. We must continue to protect and strengthen those relationships, and we must keep earning their confidence and trust.”

Theiler succeeds Steve Hanson, a rancher and cattle feeder from southwestern Nebraska, as USMEF chair. The USMEF chair-elect for the coming year is Dave Bruntz, who raises corn and soybeans and feeds cattle in southeastern Nebraska. Bruntz is a past president of the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Cattlemen. The USMEF vice chair is Darin Parker, director of Salt Lake City-based exporter/distributor PMI Foods. The newest USMEF officer is Secretary-Treasurer Ross Havens, a cattle producer who serves as marketing coordinator for Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa.

It's Time to Tackle Technical Market Access Barriers to Trade

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:08:58 GMT

What could emerge as a result of reciprocal trade agreements and frameworks announced by the Trump administration? Experts said they are optimistic about additional export opportunities in Europe and Southeast Asia (ASEAN) if trade barriers ‒ tariff and non-tariff ‒ are addressed.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror moderated a panel during the recent USMEF Strategic Planning Conference on Nov. 14 with Jihae Yang, vice president of Asia Pacific, Director of Export and Technical Services Courtney Heller, and Jim Remcheck, director of export services. Borror and the panelists agreed there’s an array of trade barriers that continue to prevent the red meat industry from reaching its trade potential in specific markets within those regions.

“In the EU, we’re still working on all of the trade issues that fall outside of the hormone ban that really shut things down back in 1989,” Heller said. “As we began working with the Trump administration, we detailed all the extra requirements that need removed to ease the process inside the packing plant, through labeling and putting product in containers to ship to the EU. And this is product that is raised specifically for the EU or the UK. It’s highly specialized and costs at least $100 extra per head, or if we’re talking about pork, about $60 more. So it’s very difficult to send it anywhere else and get the same return on that investment.”

U.S. beef faces tariff disadvantages in the ASEAN region because Australia and New Zealand, along with some other suppliers, have free trade agreements throughout the region. The U.S. also faces a host of non-tariff barriers.

“We have to chip away and tackle some of these technical market access barriers to trade that are really hindering our opportunities,” Remcheck said. “The single greatest barrier we face is the facility-by-facility approval and registration process. That’s sort of an overarching, cross-cutting issue that we see throughout the region, and the primary thing keeping us from reaching our market potential.”

Protectionism Roadblock in the ASEAN Region
Protectionism is a serious problem in the ASEAN, Yang explained. One example is how import permit processes can be abused to help protect local producers. Two other aspects that hinder market development efforts in the region are cold chain infrastructure and limited financial capacities of importers.

U.S. red meat opportunities and several promotional initiatives are contributing to the industry’s market development progress in the ASEAN region, Yang added.

“You may remember that we had only two people on staff 25 years ago, and now we have 12 people in the region,” Yang said. “That demonstrates how much we are penetrating into the market and developing our own programs to address market needs. Our strategy is supply chain development, not just in the foodservice sector, but also including distributors, retailers and further processors. The demand is there and our staff is there, working to build close working relationships with key trade partners.”

Optimism Reigns Despite Volatility in U.S. Red Meat Industry

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:23:40 GMT

Demand for U.S. red meat remains robust in key destinations where customers crave the quality and consistency of U.S. pork, beef and lamb, despite significant obstacles in the international marketplace, explained U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) president and CEO Dan Halstrom at the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference in Indianapolis.

Pork exports are modestly below last year’s record pace, but he says the gap stems mostly from a period early in 2025 when China’s retaliatory tariffs increased and the U.S. industry faced uncertainty about plant eligibility.

“Although export data is only available through July due to the government shutdown, pork shipments are on record pace to leading market Mexico, as well as to Central America and Colombia,” USMEF reports.

Halstrom says beef exports have been hit harder by barriers in China, where U.S. beef not only faces retaliatory tariffs, but also unwarranted plant delistings and China’s failure to renew registrations for the vast majority of U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities. Fully reopening the world’s largest beef import market to U.S. beef will require several actions on China’s part, and the lockout could extend into 2026.

“This is obviously a political card that’s being held by the China side,” Halstrom says. “One thing I’m very confident in is that [the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative] is well aware of our position, well aware of what’s involved, and very well-informed. I do think they’ll get it worked out eventually, I just can’t tell you when – no one can.”

Free Trade Agreements are Key
Protecting and defending existing free trade agreements is an urgent priority, Halstrom says. He is optimistic that ongoing negotiations with several trading partners may lead to new opportunities for U.S. red meat, especially in Southeast Asia.

Over the past decade, red meat exports to free trade agreement partner countries have expanded by more than 30%, and exports to these destinations now account for 76% of total shipments, he says.

Invoking the Paul Harvey quote, “In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these,” Halstrom reminds USMEF members that the industry has endured tremendous trade setbacks in the past, including widespread market closures due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and plunging consumer confidence and buying power in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

“Remember that we overcame all those obstacles,” Halstrom says. “I believe that with the knowledge in this room, and with continued cooperation and collaboration, we can overcome anything.”

A Complicated Relationship
Keynote speaker Jan Lambregts, head of RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets, discussed the complexities of the U.S.-China trade relationship.

“I’m not quite sure if you will like this news, but I don’t think there will be a comprehensive deal coming soon between China and the U.S.,” Lambregts shares. “What the U.S. is demanding is access to Chinese markets. What China will never give is access to the Chinese market because that’s not how they’ve been winning in trade during the past 30 to 40 years.”

Both countries are playing for time, he says. China has been cut off from high-end semiconductors and needs time to develop its own semiconductor sector. Similarly, the U.S. needs time to build its rare earths capacity, including development of extraction and processing capabilities.

“In the meantime, the U.S. is basically sending all its allies the same message: What was previously free defense now must be paid for, because we (the U.S.) need to be compensated. And by the way, if you want to trade with China, there are conditions now,” Lambregts says.

Cantinas Campaign Adds a Little Spice to Mexico Meat Promotions

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:32:18 GMT

Variety meats are popular in cantinas, or casual dining restaurants, in the central part of Mexico. That’s why the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is finding creative ways to promote pork and beef variety meat items to bars and casual restaurants in Mexico as an affordable appetizer and snack option that will appeal to their customers.

“Variety meat exports provide critical returns for U.S. pork and beef producers, and Mexico is a leading destination for these products,” USMEF says.

USMEF’s marketing campaign, known as Cantina Vibes, has expanded to the northern part of the country because of the success in central Mexico. In northern Mexico, consumers are less familiar with variety meat dishes, but are attracted to the lower cost, high quality, U.S. pork and beef.

“When we talk about variety meats in pork, we talk about jowl, ears, brains, snout, stomach, etc. In beef, we are promoting small intestine, also liver and sweetbread,” says Rigoberto Treviño, trade manager for USMEF Mexico. “For example, with the pork snout, we are doing tacos, sopes, tostadas. So, it’s different cantina dishes with variety meat.”

Sweebread Taco

(USMEF)

Mexico is the leading volume destination for U.S. beef variety meat exports, totaling 124,000 metric tons last year. It is second only to China for pork variety meat exports, with shipments in 2024 topping 160,000 metric tons.

Treviño says U.S. pork and beef offer “really good quality” and amazing consistency. Plus, it is very affordable for the cantinas.

“Not all variety meats are affordable,” he points out. “I know that sweetbreads are a little bit more expensive. But the small intestine or pork stomach and pork snout are very affordable. You can have a pork jowl taco or a pork jowl sope with guacamole for about, a dollar. It’s very affordable, and it’s very important for those kinds of restaurants and casual dining.”

Historic Trade Deals with Southeast Asia Open New Markets for U.S. Pork, Beef

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 17:27:22 GMT

President Donald Trump has secured historic trade deals to lower tariffs on U.S. exports and eliminate trade barriers, strengthening America’s economic and national security interests, said ambassador Jamieson Greer on Oct. 26.

Trump secured agreements on reciprocal trade with Malaysia and Cambodia and reached frameworks for agreements on reciprocal trade with Thailand and Vietnam.

Ambassador Greer believes these landmark deals demonstrate how America can maintain tariffs to shrink the goods trade deficit while opening new markets for American farmers, ranchers, workers and manufacturers.

ASEAN Region is Critical
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) president and CEO Dan Halstrom appreciates USTR’s tireless efforts to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers that have kept the U.S. as a minor supplier of red meat to the ASEAN region.

“With the U.S. beef industry currently lacking access to China, improved access to Southeast Asia is desperately needed to provide competing bids for beef cuts that are popular in Asia, but not demanded by American consumers,” Halstrom says. “Exports of short plate, chuck short rib, rib fingers, omasum and other such items are critical to maximizing the value of every animal and stimulating the U.S. herd rebuild.”

Exports have been an important driver of U.S. pork industry growth, enabling American consumers access to the bacon and ribs they love, while maximizing whole animal value through exports of feet, stomachs, picnics, brisket bones and bone-in hams, Halstrom says.

“The ASEAN region is more critical than ever as an alternative market to China, especially for pork variety meats,” he says.

U.S. beef and pork hold only minor import shares in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia due to the combination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. USMEF believes growth potential is significant when these barriers are addressed through President Trump’s agreements.

“USMEF looks forward to swift implementation of the agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, and hopes for further progress and implementation of agreements with Thailand and Vietnam, as well as follow through on the joint statement with Indonesia announced in July,” Halstrom says.

Malaysia is Key for U.S. Pork
U.S. pork exports to Malaysia hit record levels of over $24.5 million in 2024, a significant amount considering only eight U.S. plants are currently eligible for export, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) noted in a release. Exports to Malaysia have increased over 1,700% in the last five years.

“The deal with Malaysia will open access to all U.S. facilities included in the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory; will not impose additional product or facility registration requirements; and will ensure acceptance of the standard FSIS export certificate,” NPPC wrote. “In a separate deal, Cambodia agreed to the same terms.”

Malaysia also agreed to recognize the U.S. protection zone for African swine fever within 15 months of signing the deal and complete a regionalization deal.

“America’s pork producers are grateful to President Trump for increasing market access for U.S. pork to Malaysia, a country that has been importing pork despite limited plants being eligible for export,” said NPPC president Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio. “More than 25% of U.S. pork production is exported, so producers count on exports to help keep their farms afloat, especially in times of uncertainty.”

In fact, exports account for more than $66 in value from each hog marketed, NPPC explained. Meanwhile, pork production supports rural communities, and exports support over 140,000 American jobs.

“American pork producers need certainty and stability – now as much as ever – and NPPC will continue to engage with the administration and international partners to maintain and open new market access for U.S. pork,” NPPC said.

Late-Night Burger Runs: Why South Korea is a Country to Watch

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:06:27 GMT

It’s 10 p.m. You open the refrigerator to find you are out of milk and bacon. How can you have breakfast without that pair? Now imagine the fastest “Amazon fulfillment center” processing your order overnight and delivering a carton of milk and pound of bacon to your doorstop by 6 a.m. the next morning.

“That may seem unachievable in the U.S., but that’s happening in South Korea with fresh products, in addition to chilled and frozen pork and beef,” says Josh Maschhoff, Illinois Pork Producers Association president and sixth-generation pork farmer. Maschhoff was part of the 21-member delegation made up of U.S. corn, soybean, beef and pork farmers visiting South Korea with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) advocating about U.S. agriculture and trade.

(USMEF)

Maschhoff says it’s time to open our eyes as a country to the possibility of these conveniences.

Full of Opportunity
South Korea is comparable to the size of state of Indiana, Maschhoff describes. Just picture that size of a region with 43 million more people in it.

“It’s dense,” he says. “It’s a lot of high-rise buildings, urban populations, and not a lot of opportunity to travel. Convenience is really important in their lives.”

In addition to convenience, Andy Tauer, vice president of international market development at the National Pork Board, says flavor is just as important priority for the consumers in South Korea.

“Flavor profile is huge,” Tauer says. “Pork brings the flavor to the table already, but then they add a little bit of Korean spice to it once it gets here. There is a lot of opportunity for further development of some additional U.S. pork products here in this marketplace.”

The aging population of the South Korean consumer was eye opening to Maschhoff.

“We have to figure out how to adapt our product and work with the retailers and the brokers here to market to those specific demographics,” Maschhoff says. “A common trend in Korea is the uptick of home meal replacement, where they can get a prepackaged product that contains meat and vegetables and could even be seasoned or precooked.”

Home meal replacement is popular in South Korean grocery stores.

(USMEF)

He says that is one example of matching convenience and the need to create products that South Korean customers value.

Jay Theiler, executive vice president for corporate affairs at Agri-Beef and USMEF chair elect, says he appreciates the value USMEF brings in trying to figure out how to market beef in new ways that can bring more value to producers.

“One example is really thin slicing of products for things like shabu-shabu,” Theiler says. “The trip also opened my eyes to markets for cuts we don’t use in the states, like tendons in soup. It’s so diverse the way the products are consumed here. That’s where the whole puzzle works. When you could get the different pieces and parts going to the right markets and create more value for us as producers.”

Sparse Shelves
It’s not as easy as “ship it and they will buy,” but Maschhoff says the shelves were a little sparse when it came time to find U.S. pork in the stores.

“The good side about that is it’s sparse because two weeks ago, the shelves were stacked and it flew off the shelves,” he says. “The U.S. is challenged in the current market, with Canada and a few others being able to come in here with a little cheaper price, and they’re filling more of the case right now, but that’s a small hurdle.”

Another challenge is connecting South Korean customers with packers and distributors to get them the product that they need in the specifics that they’d like to see it.

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Chair Ryan Moorhouse (left) and Nebraska beef producer Keith Kreikemeier check out the beef selection in Costco in Seoul.

(USMEF)

“Belly is the No. 1 pork product they import, and if we think about how popular bacon is in our domestic market, we’re limited in our opportunity,” Tauer points out. “But to their credit, they’re making bacon out of Boston Butt and some picnic bacon. They’re finding opportunities to continue to utilize that that U.S. pork product to deliver what the consumers are demanding here in South Korea.”

Ryan Moorhouse, Cattlemen’s Beef Board chair, expects beef demand in Korea to continue to grow.

“If you look at the amount of American beef that Korea has taken, it’s kind of straight up for the last 10 years,” Moorhouse says. “They like our product. They like American products in general. It’s a very competitive market, but it’s also a market where they eat a ton of protein. I think they’ll continue to eat more and more protein with the population that they have.”

Culture Connection
In addition to better understanding market opportunities, Tauer says these trips help U.S. farmers better understand international customers. They are a great way to form valuable relationships that could open doors in Asian markets.

(l to r) Josh Maschhoff and Andy Tauer listen to a presentation at Highland Foods, one of the South Korea’s largest importers of U.S. beef and pork, during their trip to learn about opportunities for U.S. red meat.

(USMEF)

“Being able to bring our U.S. producers over here so they can meet processors, retailers and give that story firsthand is key,” Tauer says. “For example, Josh gave a presentation to about 100 or so buyers in Korea about the sustainability efforts that not only he and his family are doing on their farm, but across the entire pork spectrum. As we’ve traveled around South Korea, we’ve seen a lot of sustainable labeling and animal welfare labeling. Being able to put that personal connection to their priorities is really important and helps continue to build that confidence and preference for U.S. pork.”

Maschhoff’s first trip to Asia, he was impressed with the politeness of the Korean culture.

“They have really aligned with the U.S. and depend on us to supply them with products they can’t supply on their own,” he says. “It makes you feel grateful that you can do that for them, and it’s something we take great pride in, being able to provide food for other people.”

It also reminded him of the importance of farmers telling their story and thinking more deeply about what the consumer (domestic and international) wants to buy.

“Dollar for dollar, as a pork producer or a beef producer, our checkoff dollars are well spent when investing in promotion with USMEF because we get that match with USDA funding. It goes a long way with helping to bridge the cultural gap and trying to innovate and think about different ways we can put our product on an international plate in a way that makes those consumers really appreciate it,” Maschhoff says. “Rather than us trying to push product to them, it’s letting them pull it from us in a way that they’d like to see it.”

Tauer hopes producers see the value that the international component brings to the overall pork cutout.

U.S. pork sampling sponsored by USMEF at Costco in Seoul.

(USMEF)

“As we think about some of these markets and the different products they want and desire from the U.S., these aren’t products that our domestic consumers are going to eat on a daily basis, or ever, quite frankly,” Tauer says. “Don’t forget that $64 to $66 is what the international market adds to the overall pork (carcass) value.”

Future Food Fulfillment
Maschhoff is the first to admit he “geeked out” a little at the technology in that fulfillment center in South Korea – that’s his engineering background coming through. But he says it’s more than that.

“Tasting what pork can do is not just about the quality or the versatility, but it’s about us trying to figure out how to make that convenient,” he says. “The fulfillment center concepts just make me hungry for why we need to go try to execute that same sort of a model in the domestic market. I think there’s a wealth of opportunity that we have not tapped yet. It’s easy to say, ‘Ah well, American consumers wouldn’t see that as something.’ But I think we need to keep an open mind and learn from other countries.”

Listen to more about the trip on AgriTalk with Chip Flory.

A Mixed Bag for Red Meat Exports: Strong July for Pork, Challenges for Beef

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:41:33 GMT

It’s been a solid month again for pork, says U.S. Meat Export Federation President (USMEF) and CEO Dan Halstrom. Although numbers were down slightly from last year at 238,922 metric tons, July exports accounted for a larger share of production, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the USMEF.

“It’s really the same theme that we’ve heard for a while,” Halstrom says. “Broad-based results from a lot of different countries are contributing to it. The leader continues to be Mexico.”

He points out that Central America in particular was at 14,500 tons, 35% above a year ago.

“Central America continues to be amazing on pork,” he says. “You’ve got regions like the Caribbean, they continue to perform, up again this month.”

Another highlight for pork is recent news about increased quotas into the European Union.

“We’ve been saying all along that in these negotiations, pork is sort of the quiet potential winner here in terms of incremental access,” Halstrom says. “And Europe is not generally thought of as a destination for pork exports, but there has been some history in the past with significant tonnages going there, and this might allow us to rekindle that demand, especially on items like ham meat.”

Pork variety meat demand was strong in July, with exports posting the second largest volume this year, Halstrom says. He notes pork value fell 4% to $680.9 million, largely reflecting the 10% decline in pork variety meat prices due to China’s tariffs.

Through the first seven months of 2025, pork exports were 4% below last year’s record pace in both volume (1.69 million mt) and value ($4.8 billion).

A Major Thorn in the Side for U.S. Beef

U.S. beef performed very well in July in leading market South Korea, as well as in the Caribbean, Central America, Chile, the Philippines and Africa. But with shipments to China nearly halted due to a lack of eligible plants, July beef exports were down 19% from a year ago to 89,579 mt, the lowest in five years. Export value declined 17% to $752.5 million, the lowest since January 2023.

“We were down about 19% at just about 90,000 metric tons. The vast majority of that decrease is attributable to China, which we fully expected,” Halstrom adds. “China continues to be a major thorn in our side in terms of lack of access, with the vast majority of the beef plants and cold storages not listed for China.”

Halstrom says this continues to be a very high profile priority for USTR and USDA, and USMEF is pushing strongly in that area.

“Outside of China, demand continues to be pretty resilient. Korea had a very good month in the month of July. We saw growth in excess of 10% there. While down slightly, Japan had a fairly good month as well,” he says.

From January through July, beef exports were 8% below last year in volume (691,800 mt) and down 7.5% in value ($5.67 billion).

Product Showcase Connects U.S. Meat Exporters with Buyers from Across Latin America

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 19:47:14 GMT

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) conducted another highly successful Latin American Product Showcase, connecting U.S. red meat exporters with dozens of prospective buyers from Central and South America. Held July 30-31 in Guatemala City, the 13th edition of the showcase featured 67 exhibitors and representatives from more than 80 USMEF member companies. With prospective buyers participating from 18 countries, total participants exceeded 500.

Through funding support from USDA, the National Pork Board, the Beef Checkoff Program, the Nebraska Beef Council and the Indiana Soy Alliance, USMEF’s Latin American Product Showcase has developed into a must-do event for a wide range of U.S. exporters and buyers from throughout the region. Attending for the first time, USMEF Chair Steve Hanson, a rancher, cattle feeder and grain farmer from southwestern Nebraska, said the showcase is a great example of the U.S. red meat industry’s effort to attract new customers and further develop emerging markets.

“There are buyers here who want the top of the line, then we have people maybe wanting that mid cut, and there is also a lot of demand for cuts we don’t use in the United States,” Hanson said. “That adds value, and as a U.S. cattleman I see it as a win-win situation.”

These sentiments were echoed by Kevin Rasmussen, an Iowa pork producer who serves on the National Pork Board. He also appreciated the opportunity to personally connect with international customers.

“A cool thing about Central America is they love some of the pork cuts that we don’t consume a lot of in the in the U.S., like the loin,” Rasmussen said. “They’re a huge fan of the pork loin. They say it’s very versatile in their cooking experience, and they enjoy it a lot. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to come to event like this and promote our product – talk to the buyers who are here, and ask them, ‘what do you want to know from a producer from north-central Iowa?’”

Whether they were veterans of many USMEF product showcases or first-time participants, importers found the event very productive. Juan Jose Trujillo is CEO of Frestolu, based in Medellin, Colombia. He attended the showcase for the first time in an effort to expand the scope of his processing business.

“We are a processing company, doing mainly shrimp, and we’re looking for another protein,” Trujillo explained. “So that’s why we are here, trying to understand more about beef and pork, so we can start selling these two proteins in Colombia.”

Trujillo said he sees the most immediate opportunity in U.S. pork ribs and pork variety meat items.

“Lungs, facemasks, ears, and also ribs,” he said. “There is a lot of rib consumption in our area, so we will start with those products.”

Alejandro Martinez, owner of Medellin-based importing company Inversiones Proteam, regularly returns to the USMEF showcase because it continues to deliver value for his business.

“This is my fifth [USMEF] show, and I think it’s the best one so far for me,” Martinez said. “It’s a very good opportunity to see all the providers and suppliers in one place.”

Martinez also enjoyed the opportunity to gather information and ideas from the wide range of buyers attending the showcase.

“I was talking to some people from Honduras and Guatemala, and they import basically the same products as my business,” he said. “But they do different things, serve different types of customers, and they process the items differently. So yes, it’s good to take some of these ideas and think about how I can implement them in Colombia.”

U.S. ag industry leaders participating in the showcase also took part in a retail tour, visiting a range of local outlets offering U.S. pork and beef.

Nebraska Beef Council member Mark Goes, who raises purebred cattle in southeastern Nebraska, appreciated the opportunity to see how U.S. red meat is merchandised in Guatemala City.

“We were able to visit four tiers of marketing yesterday, starting with a wet market,” he said. “Then we moved up three levels, touring a local grocery store, then a Walmart type of market, then a premium market. As we moved on up to the upper levels, we saw those premium cuts of beef, with U.S. Choice and Prime in great demand. Select, not so much, because they’re able to get that type of product locally.”

“When we look at what’s in the meat case at Walmart and some of those higher end grocery stores in Guatemala, U.S. pork cuts are very competitive,” Rasmussen added. “In that meat case, our product looks really good. The consumer in Central America is really keyed in on the quality of the product and willing to pay for quality.”

The event also had an important educational aspect, with USMEF Director of Trade Analysis Jessica Spreitzer presenting a comprehensive outlook for U.S. red meat production, consumption and trade. Paulo de Leon, executive director of CABI Economics, gave attendees an economic outlook for the Latin American region. Erick Sosa, Guatemala manager for Microsoft Americas, offered insights on how participants can use artificial intelligence in their business operations.

The next USMEF Latin American Product Showcase is planned for the summer of 2027, with the location and dates to be determined.

Industry Hopeful for U.S.- Indonesia Trade Deal to Expand Red Meat Markets

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:58:53 GMT

With the announcement of the U.S. and Indonesian framework for a trade agreement, more access for U.S. beef and pork could become a reality.

U.S. Meat Export Federation Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror says the U.S. has had limited access to Indonesia. While tariffs are low at 5%, significant non-tariff trade barriers that have also been in place. These include import licensing regime, the commodity balance and facility registration, or plant-by-plant approvals for U.S. beef.

“Those kind of three pillars of market access barriers are how Indonesia has really managed imports for decades at this point,” Borror says.

Removing all non-tariff barriers would open the doors for beef demand in Indonesia.

“The opportunity there is $250 million annually,” Borror says. “That’s a short run estimate. If we remain out of that China market, having Indonesia compete on these short plates, short ribs, chuck short ribs, a number of the offal items, would be tremendous.”

In addition, U.S. pork faces similar trade barriers in Indonesia, a country with 30 million non-Muslims who have shown a growing demand for U.S. pork. Exporters and importers have seen that barrier in action so far this year.

“Trying to manage those pork imports through its variety of commodity balance and import licensing regimes, we’ve already had a doubling in our volumes to Indonesia on the pork side, albeit from a small base, but you see that strong growth,” Borror adds. “African Swine Fever remains rampant kind of in the region.”

She sees potential as Indonesian customers keep asking for more U.S. pork.

Trade Access Issues in Africa and the Caribbean Aren't Going Away

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:58:45 GMT

Trade access issues in Africa and the Caribbean persist. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is conducting annual reviews of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).

African Growth and Opportunity Act

AGOA provides favorable access to the U.S. market for products from some 30 African nations. Although those nations are supposed to also open their markets to U.S. products, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) explained in comments filed with USTR that some of those nations maintain significant trade obstacles for U.S. red meat.

“Starting with South Africa, it’s very difficult to ship pork variety meats in there from the U.S., and there’s also a lot of non-science based restrictions around pork muscle cuts,” says USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “In addition, the third item is there’s no access for processed pork products into South Africa.”

On the pork side, Halstrom says there is immediate opportunity if the U.S. were to get some of these restrictions lifted. For example, something as simple as pork hearts could turn into 300-400 metric tons a month overnight.

Halstrom points out that beef has better access into South Africa. However, the tariff rate is still high, exceeding 30% for most of the beef muscle cuts.

The situation in Nigeria is even worse; the country is completely closed to fresh and frozen U.S. red meat — beef and pork, Halstrom notes.

“We currently only have access into Nigeria for U.S. pork processed meats, sausages, in particular,” he says.

AGOA is set to expire Sept. 30 unless Congress takes action to renew the program, Halstrom says.

Caribbean Basin Initiative

A similar trade preferences program for the Caribbean is also under review by USTR.

USMEF has filed comments regarding access under the CBI, urging USTR to consider market access barriers when evaluating whether to recommend any country as a CBI beneficiary. Halstrom says Jamaica’s longstanding ban on U.S. pork and high tariffs on imported beef and pork is of particular interest.

“The U.S. pork industry, and USMEF as well, has been working closely with Post for years to try to open this market, and so far, we haven’t had a lot of success,” Halstrom says. “This is a good opportunity under the CBI to finally make an impact here and really leverage Jamaica into following science and getting some access for U.S. pork products.”

USTR will submit a report to Congress on the CBI by the end of this year.

Impasse with China Weighs Heavily on May Exports of U.S. Red Meat

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:07:14 GMT

Exports of U.S. beef and pork trended lower in May, due primarily to steep declines in shipments to China, according to data released by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). May exports of U.S. lamb cuts increased year-over-year, driven mainly by growing demand in Mexico.

In April and the first half of May, China’s total tariff rate on U.S. pork peaked at 172%, while the rate for U.S. beef was 147%. Even following a May 14 joint announcement temporarily easing tariffs for 90 days, China’s rates still stand at 57% for U.S. pork and 32% for U.S. beef. In addition, most U.S. beef production is ineligible due to China’s failure — since February — to renew expiring beef plant and cold storage facility registrations.

“The situation with China obviously had a severe impact on May exports, underscoring the importance of diversification and further development of alternative markets,” says USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “The need for progress in the U.S.-China trade negotiations is extremely urgent because tariffs could soar again on Aug. 12. This deadline is already impacting exporters’ decisions about whether to continue producing for the Chinese market. On the bright side, amid all this uncertainty, demand for U.S. red meat remains robust in many key regions.”

May Beef Exports to Korea Largest in more than Two Years

Beef exports totaled 97,266 mt in May, down 12% and the lowest in nearly five years. Export value was $798.7 million, down 11.5% and the lowest in 18 months. But exports to leading market South Korea were outstanding, posting the largest monthly volume in more than two years and the highest value in nearly three years. May beef exports also trended higher year-over-year to Central and South America, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates and Africa.

May beef exports to China plunged to just under 1,400 mt, down 91% from a year ago. Export value fell 90% to less than $15 million.

January-May beef exports were down 5% from last year’s pace at 508,293 mt, while value declined 3% to $4.15 billion.

Pork Exports Lower Overall, but Latin American Markets Shined in May

May pork exports totaled 224,162 metric tons (mt), down 11% from a year ago, while value fell 10% to $646.5 million. Although these were the lowest monthly totals since September 2023, shipments increased year-over-year to Mexico, Central America and Colombia, and were record-large to Cuba. Pork exports to all of these markets are on a record pace in 2025.

Pork exports to China, which are mainly variety meat, dropped to just 6,720 mt in May, down 82% from a year ago, while value fell 77% to $20.7 million.

Through the first five months of the year, pork exports were down 6% in volume (1.22 million mt) and 5% in value ($3.43 billion) compared to the record pace of 2024.

May Lamb Exports Largest of 2025

May exports of U.S. lamb muscle cuts reached a 2025 high of 363 mt, essentially doubling (up 99%) from a year ago, while value increased 71% to $1.8 million. The increase was driven mainly by growth in Mexico, where exports were the largest since 2019 at nearly 200 mt. May shipments also rebounded to Canada.

January-May lamb exports were 44% above last year at 1,367 mt, while value climbed 25% to $7.4 million. Exports to Mexico surged more than 80% in both volume (673 mt) and value ($2.34 million), driven by growing demand for alternative cuts such as shoulder and breast meat. Exports to the Caribbean, which remains the leading value destination for U.S. lamb, also increased year-over-year.

A detailed summary of the January-May export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available from the USMEF website .

Your Next Read: Understanding Basis: The Biggest Risk in the Cattle Market Today

Tourism Driving Central American Demand for U.S. Beef

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:57:02 GMT

With “meat boutiques” becoming more popular across Central America, consumers have access to more higher-end cuts of U.S. beef. Lucia Ruano, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) regional representative, says sales have been promoted through support from USDA and the Beef Checkoff Program.

“We have a variety of this type of stores that have become very trendy and very convenient for consumers,” Ruano says.

Commercial partners are supported in a variety of ways in order to grow their businesses. This includes seminars about the industry and the cuts of meat being promoted, master classes for demonstrating preparation techniques sponsoring barbecue competitions and festivals, she adds.

“We also have trade teams where we bring our commercial partners to the U.S. to learn first-hand from the industry,” Ruano explains. “And of course, we have social media that is a very important tool for us.”

Through April, beef exports to Central America increased 9% from a year ago in volume (8,131 metric tons), while value soared 30% to more than $70 million. Tourism growth in new areas like El Salvador and Guatemala have contributed to the increased demand.

According to Ruano, the Central America region received 11% more visitors in 2024 than 2023. El Salvador received 3.9 million visitors, which is a historic record.

“El Salvador has become a very secure country now, and they have been doing a lot of promotion of the beaches that they have,” Ruano says. “International tourism is getting to know this country.”

While Costa Rica has always been the first country in tourism for Central America, it was surpassed by El Salvador and Guatemala for the first time.

“There is a boom in tourism here, and governments are investing to meet the growing demand,” Ruano adds.

Your next read: Beef Profit Tracker: Feedlot Margins Average Estimated $839/head

Sharp Drop in Beef and Pork Exports to China Causes April Meat Exports to Take a Hit

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:51:07 GMT

The ongoing trade dispute with China reportedly made progress this week. In what marked the first call since the trade conflict began in February, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he held an hour-and-a-half conversation with President Xi Jinping, saying the conversation “resulted in a very positive conclusion for both countries”.

An in-person meeting between trade and economic leaders of both countries is on the calendar next. But as the negotiations play out, export demand is starting to take a hit, especially when tariffs hit their peak in April.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) says due in part to a sharp decline in shipments to China, April exports of U.S. beef and pork came in lower than a year ago. USMEF says a major headwind that showed up in the April numbers is China’s retaliatory duties on both beef and pork from the U.S.

But that’s not the only hurdle. Beef exports into China are also waiting for China to renew establishment registrations for U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities, the majority of which expired in mid-March. This is a non-tariff trade barrier that is hurting beef exports.

According to USDA data, USMEF says April beef exports were 10% lower than April 2024. Value also fell, down 8% to $824.5 million. The biggest decline, by far, is China. Beef exports to China dropped 70% — that makes sense when you consider China’s total duties on U.S. beef peaked at 147% in April. At the same time, the fact that China hasn’t re-established U.S. plant registrations also caused exports to fall.

Overall, beef exports to Mexico also came in lower. However, USMEF says that was partially offset by larger exports to South Korea, Japan and Central and South America.

(USDA)

Pork exports fell 15% compared to a year prior, which is the lowest in 10 months. The value fell to 675.3 million, representing a 13% decline. USMEF says exports to China, which are mainly pork variety meats, dropped 35% during that time. Pork also faced a high tariff during April, peaking at 172%. But pork exports also slipped to Mexico, Japan and Canada — with exports to Canada down 45%.

The bright spots for U.S. pork exports in April were Colombia and Central Mexico — which are hitting a record pace.

U.S. Farm Report spoke to USMEF Dan Halstrom just hours after President Trump posted a more optimistic view of the relationship with China on social media. He says resolving issues with China will only fuel the strong start to the year.

(USDA)

“There’s no doubt outside of China, the rest of the business during the first part of this year and coming off records from last year is fantastic — record breaking in terms of demand,” Halstrom says. “China’s been the X factor. And through the first three months of this year before the disruption, things look pretty good. The April meat export stats just came out, and what’s down is China. We knew that would happen in April. So, this news couldn’t be more timely. We have to get people to the table. This was a necessary first step. And it’s great news the A-Team is going to get engaged and hopefully bring this back around to get some stability back into the market.”

The “A-team” Halstrom is referring to is key members from Trump’s cabinet. That includes treasury secretary Scott Bessent, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer.

“We need some sort of an agreement because there’s so many things going on. It’s not only tariff related,” Halstrom says. “In fact, on the beef side, it’s not tariff related. It’s non-tariff trade issues. We have approximately 400 beef establishments that have not been relisted in the China cipher system. So, it doesn’t matter what your duty is if your plants aren’t registered. This is at the top of the list on the beef side. On the pork side, the plants are listed, which is great news, but we still have a pretty hefty tariff. Uncertainty and instability in the market right now caused around China is a real headwind we have to get beyond.”

Halstrom says USMEF’s outlook for the remainder for 2025 is for exports to return to a strong pace, which was a theme during the first quarter of the year.

“For the pork side, our forecast, which assumes the current situation or something improved, shows we’re basically steady with a year ago — which was a record a year,” Halstrom says. “So, the demand is still very, very strong. Now, the caveat is what happens with China going forward on pork, and definitely on beef. On the beef side, our forecast is down 6% — but that’s with no beef plants relisted for China. Outside of China, beef demand is, in our opinion, fantastic — even at higher prices. Despite the uncertainty, we’re well positioned.”

Looking back at 2024, beef export value climbed 5% from 2023 despite a slight decrease in volume. Part of that was due to historically tight cattle supplies creating less meat for exports.

Pork exports to Mexico in 2024 totaled 1.15 million metric tons in 2024, up 5% from the enormous total exported in 2023. Export value climbed 10% in 2024 to $2.58 billion – more than doubling since 2020.

Creating Alternative Export Markets During Trade Turmoil

Thu, 29 May 2025 14:20:00 GMT

Being nimble and adjusting to the unknowns in the global marketplace remains on the minds of staff of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, says Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO.

“When you see something like China happen, where we’re pivoting on the demand side, this is what our membership expects of us,” he says. “They’re all well aware of the of the problems. You know, 150% tariff on beef into China is a big problem, but we try to come with solutions, or at least partial solutions, to help them out on the demand side, and that’s our role.”

With offices all over the world and 105 employees in 20 regions, the organization’s ability to adjust and pivot was highlighted during the spring conference, May 21-23 in Fort Worth.

“USMEF’s focus is on bringing solutions to the table,” Halstrom says.

During the event several speakers shared about the new markets being targeted to continue to move U.S. red meat.

Southeast Asia
Jihae Yang, USMEF vice president for the Asia Pacific, notes the organization has been aiming at alternative markets due to high tariffs and other barriers limiting pork and beef exports to China.

For example, USMEF partnered with a major retailer in South Korea for a promotion of U.S. beef short plate, after uncertainty over plant eligibility and higher tariffs made the product more difficult to move in China. She said if the trade impasse continues, she sees more U.S. short plate being available to importers in Southeast Asia.

Another avenue for U.S. red meat is working with a Korean meal kit manufacturer and a Japanese distributor to develop and promote items featuring U.S. pork bung. U.S. pork tongue trimmings are also being promoted in popular dishes in Japan’s casual dining sector, Yang added.

Mexico
Gerardo Rodriguez, USMEF director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic, explains that while Mexico has been developed into the largest destination for U.S. red meat, the U.S. industry now faces unprecedented levels of competition in the Mexican market. He noted that it is more important than ever to differentiate U.S. red meat from other suppliers’ products and educate consumers about its unique attributes.

“Right now a major focus for USMEF is to establish loyalty in the next generation of consumers, developing several programs for the future customer,” Rodriguez says. “With Mexico being a trading partner for so long, it can be easy to think of it as a mature market. But there are always new markets within the market that we can expand, and new tactics we can employ. Our mobile grill academy is a good example, where we highlight the unique attributes of U.S. red meat all across the country.”

Latin America
USMEF Latin America Representative Homero Recio explains the efforts to overcome Columbia’s restrictions on beef, which were imposed after highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in dairy cows last year. The ban, which eventually extended to beef from 14 U.S. states, was lifted in September 2024, but the impact has persisted. When U.S. beef was unavailable, Columbia turned to importing Canadian beef.

“This really gave us the resolve to say, ‘we’re going to get this back, we’re going to fight back,’” Recio says about reclaiming market share. “In the past, we often talked about ‘our importers.’ Well, you know what? ‘Our importers’ went and bought Canadian beef. So we have to go to the next level, whether it’s with a supermarket chain or a foodservice chain, and develop a further, stronger relationship with them and really tie them to a brand.”

John Newton of Terrain also spoke to attendees about his trade outlook. He believes the U.S. will get to a Phase Two deal with China.

“I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but I think it’s going to happen,” Newton says. “I think what President Trump has to do is, by March of next year, he’s got to show real progress on the Big Beautiful Bill, real progress on trade deals, real progress on the economy. Because what happens in March next year? Right into the midterms.”

Newton also explains the process the Big Beautiful Bill will go through in the Senate. He foresees it having modifications. They goal is to have it passed by July 4.

An increase in funding for USDA’s export market development programs are critical support for America’s farmers and ranchers, Newton says.

“The world becomes more competitive each year, so, it’s really important for us to get out and find those new deals to help the farm economy,” Newton explains.

Your Next Read: Continued Focus on Demand Long-Term Goal For U.S. Red Meat

Continued Focus on Demand Long-Term Goal For U.S. Red Meat

Thu, 22 May 2025 18:54:50 GMT

As the U.S. Meat Export Federation, (USMEF) convenes in Fort Worth for its Spring Conference May 21-23 , talks of cattle herd size and rebuilding have come to mind. As keynote speaker, Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, addressed the topic noting that the industry is still in tight fed cattle supplies and there are more hooks than cattle to fill them when it comes to processing capacity.

“Non-fed slaughter, non-fed cow and bull slaughter has declined significantly, as you would expect,” Blach says. “We’re stabilizing the herd from a lack of harvest of the cows. We’re seeing very gradual, slow, slow, slow expansion, but it does look like when we look back, January of 2025 will be the low in the beef cow herd.”

He says it’s important people recognize the per capita beef supplies are pretty flat.

“This price increase that we’re experiencing in the industry is demand driven,” Blach adds. “Beef demand’s at a 37-year high. And I think when people think about demand, obviously quality has been the key to that. We’ve seen the quality of the animals being produced has increased substantially.”

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom says with all the tariff disruption in the first quarter of 2025, the red meat industry needs to focus on the long term, which is demand.

“This is just the nature of the market that we’re in,” Halstrom says. “The reality is that demand continues. Demand is record-breaking on both beef and pork in a variety of markets. We have the ability to adjust as needed. A good example being China currently, but I think the message is that we’ve got to keep our eye on the ball. In the end, I really think all this noise around what may or may not happen will be superseded by demand.”

Your Next Read: Rural Minds: Breaking the Silence Around Mental Health in Agriculture

Red Meat Exports Trend Higher in March; Beef Export Value Highest in Nine Months

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:39:20 GMT

Exports of U.S. beef, pork and lamb trended higher year-over-year in March, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef export value was the highest since June, while Latin American markets again fueled pork export growth. March exports of lamb muscle cuts were the largest in more than five years.

“Despite a great deal of uncertainty, global demand for U.S. beef remains robust and resilient,” says USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom, in a release. “The March export results confirm this, with demand trending higher in Taiwan and Mexico, reaching record levels in Central America and holding up well in Japan and Korea. Although we anticipate that China’s retaliatory tariffs and expired plant registrations will have a more drastic impact on April and May exports, the U.S. industry’s efforts to diversify markets and broaden U.S. beef’s global footprint are definitely paying dividends.”

March beef exports totaled 109,330 metric tons (mt), up 1% from a year ago, while export value reached $922 million – up 4% and the highest since June. Export value per head of fed slaughter was the seventh highest on record at $466.77.

First-quarter beef exports were slightly below last year’s pace at 310,368 mt, but increased 2% in value to $2.53 billion.

Pork exports trending up
“March was another spectacular month for U.S. pork demand in Mexico and Central America, but exports also rebounded nicely to Colombia and Korea,” Halstrom says. “Duty-free access has helped fuel pork exports to these key markets, where we continue to see heightened competition.”

The numbers showed an increase of 3% year-over-year to 269,344 mt, valued at $769.7 million (up 4%). Export value per head slaughtered was outstanding in March, reaching the second highest figure on record at $73.91, according to the report.

Mexico and Central America led the March export growth, while shipments to Colombia were the second largest on record. Exports to Korea, which had slowed significantly in recent months, were the largest in nearly a year, while shipments trended higher year-over-year to the Philippines and Cuba but slowed to Japan.

First-quarter pork exports were slightly above last year’s record value pace at $2.11 billion, but slightly lower in volume (754,488 mt).

Plant eligibility for China is less of an issue for U.S. pork than for U.S. beef, as China renewed most pork establishments in mid-March. Halstrom cautions that both pork and beef exports to China have since hit a wall due to China’s prohibitive duties, which now total 172% for U.S. pork and 147% for U.S. beef.

“Shipments already in the pipeline can still clear without the extra 125% tariff, provided they shipped before April 10 and arrive in China by May 13,” Halstrom explains. “But new business has been effectively halted until there is a de-escalation of the U.S.-China trade impasse.”

A detailed summary of the January-March export results for U.S. pork, beef and lamb, including market-specific highlights, is available from the USMEF website .

Future of U.S. Red Meat: Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain?

Wed, 07 May 2025 20:26:06 GMT

The fallout from China’s decision to cancel 12,300 metric tons of U.S. pork produced for China has resulted in a massive ripple effect across the entire red meat industry.

“There’s a lot of moving parts with this whole situation with China,” Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory. “First of all, there’s a lot of jostling that goes on in a normal environment from one week to the next. So, that in and of itself is not that abnormal.”

But we all know there’s a lot going on right now when it comes to tariffs. With an inbound duty of 172% on U.S. pork going into China, and beef not much better at 147%, business is shut off for all practical purposes.

“Part of that jostling on the reports has to do with the question of will the vessels arrive in time before the magic date where the duties go even higher?” Halstrom says. “We’re in a situation that’s extremely volatile, but for all practical purposes on pork and beef, the business that was going into China has now been deployed and diverted to other markets or even here to our domestic market.”

Do We Need China?
Halstrom says it’s not easy to move pork and beef variety meats . Although some of that product can be diverted to other markets like Mexico, which is the second largest market for U.S. pork variety meats, there’s still some cuts like hind feet that don’t have a destination anywhere else — and certainly not at the price that China pays.

“The overriding problem a lot of people forget about is, ‘Yeah, you might be able to sell a lot of this product somewhere else, but the price will be lower.’ The reason it’s lower is you’ve got one of the major buyers in the global market that’s not on the playing field,” Halstrom says. “Any time you have less buyers, your price is going to be lower. And that’s what we’re dealing with today on a variety of products.”

Global demand for U.S. red meat has never been better – even in China, Halstrom adds.

“The problem in China has nothing to do with demand for U.S. beef and pork,” he says. “This is a political situation. What we’re picking up (we don’t have any inside track knowledge here), is if it was up to the trade, business would be going today because the trade is demanding our product. They do not want shortages of food in general, specifically protein.”

In that regard, Halstrom says the U.S. has some leverage. He believes there is a real effort taking place to get things improved from where they are today. And from his perspective, that couldn’t come fast enough.

Can Mexico Save Us?
Flory points out how a tomato trade issue with Mexico could turn into an issue for meat producers.

“Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum says if there are tariffs on tomatoes from Mexico into the U.S., she might be targeting chicken and pork,” Flory says.

Halstrom explains this is tough news for the U.S. pork industry as Mexico is its largest market by far, making up about 30% of its global exports and bringing in over $2.6 billion last year.

“We do have a little bit of history here,” he says. “Back in 2018, we went about 10 months where Mexico had put an incremental duty of 20% on U.S. pork cuts. By our estimation, that cost the industry easily at least $1 billion in lost revenue.”

Chad Leman, an Illinois pig farmer, told Flory in AgriTalk’s Farmer Forum on May 7 that the U.S. can’t let this happen again.

“Just think what a BLT sandwich is going to be if we keep arguing about bacon and tomatoes? We can’t mess with this,” Leman says. “In all seriousness, we’ve got a couple of months to work this out.”

Leman says we can’t afford to mess with exports to Mexico when it comes to pork, and Halstrom couldn’t agree more.

One difference between what happened in 2018 and what’s happening today is that there’s a new competitor in the wings: Brazil.

“Today, Brazil has a zero-duty agreement with Mexico,” Halstrom says. “They do not have a free-trade agreement, but they do have a zero-duty on pork going into Mexico. I cannot overstate the importance of this threat in this regard.”

But both Leman and Halstrom say the positive is that President Sheinbaum has been collaborative, pragmatic and calm through it all. They are optimistic agreement can happen.

U.S. Red Meat Can Win
“The heavy lifting is being done,” Leman says. “I know it’s concerning to a number of farmers, but it’s nice to have trade back in the national conversation. We haven’t had any trade talks for the last number of years, and now we’re talking trade again. As always with this administration, there’s a lot of noise trying to figure out where it’s headed. But, that also brings some volatility to these markets, which, if played correctly, can be beneficial to us.”

There’s no question the potential is there, Halstrom says. It may be rocky at the moment, but he believes the outcome could be positive.

“If we were on a level playing field with all these countries, we wouldn’t know what to do with all the business,” Halstrom says. “I’m not just speaking for us, but for agriculture in general. The potential is phenomenal, but it is pretty volatile at the moment while we wait.”

Your next read: Panic Slowly: China’s Cancellation of 12,000 Tons of U.S. Pork Sends Loud Message

Japanese Importers Tour U.S. Beef Supply Chain

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:11:32 GMT

Japanese beef importers made a recent visit to the U.S. to learn more about the beef supply chain. About a dozen buyers from the four major beef importing companies in Japan traveled to Colorado, Kansas and Idaho. Jay Theiler of Agri Beef, the U.S. Meat Export Federation chair-elect, was one of the hosts.

“We had the great opportunity to show them all the steps in the beef supply chain, starting with going to a ranch operation, then Agri Beef’s feedyard out in Parma, Idaho,” Theiler says. “We took them to the producer owned plant, True West Beef in Jerome, Idaho. They really got to see a good overview of all the steps in our U.S. beef supply chain, and see the focus that we put on quality.”

The True West beef plant is one of the newest plants in the U.S., opening in June 2023.

“It’s a good example of a new facility, and it’s a plant that is also partially owned by producers here in the Northwest,” Theiler explains. “That’s a little bit different for the Japanese to see a model different than all the other plants in the United States.”

Japanese buyers examine cattle feed at an Idaho feedyard.

(USMEF)

Because there is not enough beef in Japan for all domestic consumption, they rely on trading partners.

“With the U.S., it’s been such a long relationship that they really do appreciate the quality that we produce here,” Theiler says. “The Japanese markets are critical to Agri Beef. There’s a lot of items that go over there that are not necessarily consumed here, domestically. And if you look at it as an industry, exports in total are around $415 a head, but $75 of that actually comes from Japan. It’s actually a critical market. It’s the number one volume market, and second only to South Korea and the value.”

The team met in Denver and received an overview from USMEF then visiting Idaho for the tour. They also met with representatives from the Idaho Beef Council, Idaho Department of Agriculture, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, Washington State Beef Commission and Oregon Beef Council. In Kansas, they toured the National Beef processing facility in Dodge City and learned about ranching and cattle feeding sectors.

The tour was supported by the Beef Checkoff Program, USDA and Idaho and Washington state beef organizations. For more information, visit usmef.org

Your next read: Trump Plans to Ease Trade Tensions by Reducing Tariffs On Chinese Goods

Industry Reacts to Changes In USTR Port Service Fee Plan

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:40:31 GMT

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published revisions to proposed port service fees intended to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry after hearing concerns from the industry. A year-long Section 301 investigation included a public hearing and nearly 600 public comments, including some from U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) on behalf of the red meat industry.

“Ships and shipping are vital to American economic security and the free flow of commerce,” Ambassador Greer said in a USTR release. “The Trump administration’s actions will begin to reverse Chinese dominance, address threats to the U.S. supply chain and send a demand signal for U.S.-built ships.”

USTR remarked the changes reflected the need for action and the importance of limiting disruption for U.S. exporters.

One of the significant changes important to U.S. red meat exporters is that fees will not be charged on every port call – only per voyage. This will reduce the likelihood that carriers will eliminate port calls, which had been a major concern for U.S. exporters.

“One of those key ports being Oakland, which just so happens to be one of the highest volume ports for our high-quality chilled U.S. beef import going into the Asian markets,” says Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO.

The revised service fee structure is based much more on vessel capacity rather than flat fees, making it less burdensome for smaller ships used on shorter routes such as to Central America and Colombia.

Halstrom said that’s definitely improvement from where we were, and he believes USTR did listen to the concerns the industry had.

“For U.S. beef and pork, the schedule is much more attractive in terms of fees and a lower per pound basis impact,” he adds. “Anything that adds cost to the process is always a concern. But compared to the original proposal, we are very encouraged by these improvements that USTR has made.”

Your next read: Long-Term Care: Affording it Without Losing the Farm

Boosting Exports: U.S. Red Meat Builds Markets In Africa

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:38:29 GMT

In an effort to focus on U.S. exports to Africa, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a trade seminar in Accra, Ghana. Twelve African countries and 30 exporters were represented at the first-time event. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom says Africa is critical to the U.S. industry’s efforts to expand and diversify global markets for U.S. red meat.

“One of our core missions is to bring buyers and sellers together, especially in these emerging markets that are still not developed today,” Halstrom says. “It’s time to take the next step and get aggressive and really tell our story in these countries.

Importers and exporters hosted direct meetings, heard presentations from USMEF and USDA leaders as well as representatives of the U.S. cattle industry and successful African meat businesses. They also toured retail stores and cold storage facilities. The focus on face-to-face meetings helps build relationships in most markets in the world.

“We wanted to make sure I could put the best possible delegates from the USA into the best possible buying room we could facilitate,” says Matt Copeland, USMEF Africa Representative.

Copeland says 51 companies and 76 buyers came together with total values more than 140,000 tons of protein purchased a month.

“We have this emerging middle class, and those guys, one of the first things they do as they emerge is they want to spend money on a better experience,” he adds. “We’re going to take advantage of that wave.”

Robert Preska of trading company Lamex Foods has been working in Africa for 15 years and says he had the opportunity to meet new African buyers who have established businesses in the Ivory Coast, which gives new opportunities to the industry.

“At these meetings, we have several people in high-end restaurants who are interested in high-quality beef to put on the plate, and we’re really trying to work to get some air samples over, because it’s going to be very difficult to sell them a full container, right off the bat,” Preska says. “If we can get some samples into them, somehow it becomes feasible that in a few months, we could be talking about moving some containers of primal cuts over here.”

Your next read: Transforming High-Risk Cattle into Economic Success