China tightens controls on US pork

With time-consuming bureaucracy, China is trying to get back at the United States (US) in the trade war. Literally every container of American pork entering China is inspected by authorities.

In response to the US import tariffs on steel and aluminum, China has been imposing a maximum tariff of 25% on imports since the beginning of April. pork from the US. Sounds from the field reveal that this is not the only measure.

Time-consuming bureaucracy
According to Luis Chein from WH Group, the largest player in pork, China has significantly increased customs controls. In the past, export containers were only inspected on a random basis; now Chinese customs inspects every container of American pork. According to Chein, the checks are time-consuming, which causes delays.

The controls also apply to export containers with fruit and tree trunks from the US. Chinese customs does not want to respond to the tightened controls. Traders say that the Chinese bureaucracy can be seen as a disguised counter-reaction to the Sino-American crisis trade war.

In conversation
It remains to be seen how the trade war will proceed. Next week, Liu He, China's Vice Premier, will travel to the US to discuss the trade war. The tariffs on US pork are part of a long list of Chinese tariffs on more than 120 US imports.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.