China's US Beef Imports Stay Low Ahead of Summit

China’s imports of American meat products remain at historically low levels despite recent diplomatic efforts to normalize trade relations. As President Xi Jinping prepares for a scheduled visit to Washington, data indicates that the volume of US beef, pork, and poultry entering the Chinese market has not yet recovered to pre-2025 benchmarks, even after the two nations announced the restoration of specific trade channels in May.

According to reports from Meatingplace, this stagnation in agricultural commerce persists despite a broader agreement where China committed to purchasing $17 billion in US agricultural products, excluding soybeans. The disparity between the announced intent and actual shipment volumes suggests that structural and regulatory barriers continue to hinder the flow of US protein into one of the world's largest markets.

Beef Trade Volume Remains Minimal

The most significant gap exists in the beef sector. Data from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service shows that US exports of beef products to China in July totaled only $21 million. While this figure represents a marginal increase from previous months, it stands in stark contrast to July 2024, when Chinese importers purchased $131.869 million in US beef. The total US beef exports for the first half of the current year amounted to just $28.58 million, indicating that the trade channel remains largely dormant despite official statements of restoration.

Industry observers note that the low volumes are not merely a result of price fluctuations but reflect deeper logistical and regulatory constraints. Although the Beijing summit in May included an announcement regarding the resumption of beef trade, the actual movement of goods has failed to materialize at a scale that would signal a full return to normalcy. This disconnect between diplomatic announcements and commercial reality is a key point of focus for US producers seeking market access.

Pork and Poultry Face Distinct Barriers

Pork exports to China have also declined, with July shipments valued at $66.871 million. This represents a 25.6 percent reduction compared to July 2024 and a 14 percent drop from July 2025. The National Pork Producers Council has argued that various non-tariff barriers continue to constrain US pork access, limiting the ability of American producers to compete effectively in the Chinese market despite the easing of some tariff measures.

The poultry sector presents a mixed picture. July exports totaled $38 million, an 81 percent increase over the same period last year and slightly above the $34.597 million recorded in July 2024. However, cumulative imports through July this year reached $171.76 million, which remains below the $242.81 million seen in 2024. Legislators cite ongoing restrictions related to highly pathogenic avian influenza as a primary factor suppressing higher volumes, suggesting that sanitary and phytosanitary standards remain a significant hurdle for US exporters.

Diplomatic Talks Aim to Resolve Gaps

With President Xi Jinping confirmed to meet with President Donald Trump in Washington later this week, agricultural trade is expected to be a central topic. The two leaders plan to exchange views on major issues concerning China-US relations, and the persistent low levels of meat imports provide a concrete case study for the ongoing friction in bilateral commerce. The upcoming summit offers a potential opportunity to address the specific regulatory and logistical issues that have kept US beef, pork, and poultry exports from reaching their historical averages.

As the leaders prepare for their discussions, the market is watching for concrete commitments that go beyond general statements of intent. The current data, showing total US agricultural exports to China of $3.9 billion through July, suggests that while progress has been made, the pace remains below expectations set during the May summit. Whether the upcoming talks will yield specific measures to unlock these constrained sectors will be a critical indicator of the true state of US-China trade relations.