Smithfield Foods, the biggest US pork processor, still considers China as its best market for US offal products even with increased trade tariffs, according to its CEO Shane Smith.
China recently retaliated against US tariffs with hikes to import levies covering US$21 billion worth of American agricultural and farm products, which also includes pork.
The Chinese are the biggest consumer of pork, consuming more than 57 million tons in 2024, representing more than half of global consumption. Beijing slapped a 10% tariff on US pork in its latest round of retaliatory actions on Trump tariff imposed on everything China exports to the US.
The tariff war eventually could translate to higher costs for both US and Chinese consumers.
