Emily Carter
The US and China have a complex relationship when it comes to chicken and pork imports and exports. In 2019, China lifted its ban on importing US chicken, which had been in place since 2015 due to an outbreak of avian influenza in the US. At the same time, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that fully cooked Chinese domestic chicken could be exported to the US, granting China access to the US market for the first time. However, there have been disruptions to the US-China chicken trade, with chicken exports caught up in US car and truck tire import policy, leading to retaliatory tariffs from China. Additionally, it has been reported that the US allows US chickens to be shipped to China for processing and then shipped back to the US without notifying consumers of the chicken's origin. In terms of pork, the spread of African Swine Fever has impacted the industry, but it is unclear what specific impact this has had on US-China trade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does Chica import chicken to the USA? | Yes, as of November 2019, China lifted its ban on importing US chicken. |
| Does Chica import pork to the USA? | No clear information, but pork from other countries is imported to the USA. |
| Is the imported chicken from the USA processed in China? | Yes, the US allows chickens to be shipped to China for processing and then shipped back to the US without notifying consumers. |
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What You'll Learn
The US-China chicken trade
The US and China have a long history of trading chicken and poultry products. In 2006, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) determined that China's inspection system was equivalent to that of the US, meaning it could provide the same level of food safety. The FSIS ruled that China could export processed poultry products to the US as long as the poultry was sourced from birds slaughtered in the US or other eligible countries. However, Congress prevented the USDA from implementing this rule until 2010, and even then, only under certain conditions with increased auditing and review of the Chinese system.
In 2010, the US shipped over 750,000 tons of chicken meat to China, including more than 420,000 tons of chicken paws, a popular product in China. Exports were valued at $682 million, the highest they had ever been. However, disruptions to the US-China chicken trade have occurred over the years due to factors such as trade wars and disease outbreaks. In 2015, China banned the import of US chicken following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the US. This ban was lifted in 2019 before the Phase One trade agreement was signed, potentially improving export access for the US chicken industry.
It is important to note that there have been concerns about the quality and safety of chicken imported from China. China has faced food safety scandals, such as accusations of selling expired meat, and the spread of diseases has impacted its poultry industry. There are also concerns about the practice of shipping US chickens to China for processing and then back to the US, with some criticising the use of Chinese labour and the lack of transparency to consumers.
In recent years, the US has imported smaller amounts of chicken from China. In 2017, the first known shipment of cooked chicken from poultry raised in China arrived in the US following a trade deal supported by then-President Donald Trump. While China has eligible facilities to process and export US chicken, the National Chicken Council has denied that US chicken is sent to China for processing and then returned to the US.
In summary, the US-China chicken trade has had its ups and downs, with trade agreements, disease outbreaks, and food safety concerns all playing a role. While China has been approved to export processed poultry to the US, the majority of meat consumed in the US does not come from China, and there are ongoing discussions about the safety and ethics of the trade relationship.
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Poultry imports and exports
In 2019, China lifted its ban on importing US chicken, which had been in place since 2015 due to an outbreak of avian influenza in the US. This agreement was reached before the Phase One trade deal and was expected to strengthen export access for US chicken producers. However, the Phase One deal did not remove the burden of additional "trade war" duties on US chicken meat exports to China, impacting the competitiveness of US exports.
China's access to the US poultry market has been a point of contention. In 2010, China requested that the USDA review its poultry inspection system, and in 2013, the FSIS confirmed that China's poultry processing inspection system was equivalent to that of the US. Despite this, China did not end up exporting any processed poultry to the US under these rules. Instead, the US allowed Chinese domestic chicken to be exported to the US if the products were fully cooked, a decision that took over 15 years to materialize.
The US-China poultry trade has faced disruptions in the past. In 2009, China retaliated against US tire tariffs by imposing high anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US chicken exports. These disruptions highlight the complex dynamics of trade negotiations and the potential for retaliatory actions in unrelated sectors.
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Chicken processing in China
In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) made it possible for chicken to be exported to China for processing and then shipped back to the United States for sale. This practice was technically authorized several years ago but was denied funding by Congress through a three-year ban. Since China's original application, a total of ten years passed due to lengthy inspections, the congressional ban, and further inspections.
In 2013, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a branch of the USDA, completed remedial audits of China's poultry processing system. The FSIS certified the administrative side of the Chinese poultry processing system and issued permits to four select processing plants, deeming them equivalent to US standards. However, some American politicians and consumer groups have expressed reservations about the safety of chicken processed in China due to food safety concerns and consumer information issues.
In 2010, China requested that the USDA review its poultry inspection system, and in 2013, the FSIS confirmed that China's poultry processing inspection system was equivalent to that of the US. This determination was made after a careful review by expert auditors to ensure that China's system for processed poultry met US safety standards. The FSIS conducts annual reviews of the equivalency status and on-site audits to ensure compliance with US standards. They also conduct port-of-entry re-inspections for all imported products, focusing on products from countries new to exporting to the US.
China has not yet provided a list of certified plants that will process chicken for export to the US, nor have they provided a timeframe for when they intend to begin exporting to the US market. While disruptions to the US-China chicken trade are not new, China has recently suspended chicken imports from two American producers in retaliation for new tariffs imposed by the US. Despite these challenges, the poultry industry believes that US chicken paw exports to China could reach $1 billion annually, with other chicken meat exports potentially adding another $1 billion.
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Chicken paw exports
Chicken paws, or chicken feet, are a popular food product in China, more so than in the United States. In 2008, the US exported over 420,000 tons of chicken paws to China, with exports valued at $682 million. This was the highest they had ever been. However, in 2009, the US International Trade Commission determined that a surge in tire imports was disrupting the market for US tire manufacturers. This allowed the US to increase ad valorem duties on Chinese tire imports, to which China responded by imposing anti-dumping duties of upwards of 100% on US chicken exports.
In 2013, several Chinese facilities were approved to export to the US poultry products from chickens raised in America. In 2015, China banned the import of US chicken following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This ban was lifted in 2019, and the US poultry industry believes that US chicken paw exports to China alone could reach $1 billion annually. In 2025, China renewed export registrations for US poultry plants, allowing hundreds of facilities to export to China.
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Chicken meat quality
Tenderness is a critical factor in consumer satisfaction with poultry meat. It is influenced by various factors, including the maturity of connective tissue, the contractile state of myofibrillar proteins, environmental stresses, the bird's age, and the rate of rigor mortis development. The onset of rigor mortis is vital for desirable meat quality, as it involves the conversion of muscle to meat. The time taken for this process varies depending on species, muscle, fibre type, holding temperature, and other factors.
Flavour is another essential aspect of chicken meat quality. It is influenced by chemical changes that occur during cooking, such as sugar and amino acid interactions, lipid and thermal oxidation, and thiamin degradation. These processes contribute to the characteristic "poultry" flavour. Breed variations also impact flavour, as different strains exhibit differences in palatability.
Additionally, the use of antibiotics in poultry farming can affect meat quality. Antibiotics may alter the pH, colour, moisture retention capacity, and tenderness of chicken meat. They can also increase oxidative stress, leading to lipid over-oxidation and protein degradation, resulting in weaker muscle fibres and reduced tenderness and texture.
In the context of US-China trade relations, chicken meat quality plays a role in export dynamics. The United States is known for its quality chicken meat, which is desirable to Chinese consumers. However, trade war duties and export restrictions due to avian disease concerns have impacted the competitiveness of US chicken exports to China. China's domestic chicken exports to the US must be fully cooked, and the US poultry industry believes that exports of chicken paws alone could reach $1 billion annually.
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