Regarding China's Beef Market, the Opportunity Looks Promising but Expect Some Growing Pains

 

This week, the United States Meat Export Federation is holding its spring conference in Arlington, Virginia. USMEF Sr. Vice President for the Asia-Pacific Joel Haggard is there, just back from a food conference in China, and he told Ron Hays, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network farm director, that he’s excited about the prospect of getting the Chinese market opened to US beef once again. But he says right now, there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the details of the deal being negotiated.

 

“Last week at this annual trade show, there was intense buying interest,” Haggard reported. “But without having the details of the protocol, it’s very difficult for our exporters to talk about prices.”

 

Haggard says the price factor will be very important once the deal is done, but he says without the details, it is tough to really gauge the export opportunity there. Looking at the short and long term though, Haggard believes the US will eventually find a solid foothold.