Jake Harper
China and the United States have had a tumultuous relationship regarding the import and export of chicken and pork products. China's inspection system was deemed equivalent to that of the US in 2006, allowing for the trade of poultry between the two countries. However, this decision was met with resistance and has since been a point of contention, with the US imposing additional trade war duties on chicken exports to China, and China retaliating with tariffs on US agricultural goods, including chicken and pork products. Despite these challenges, China remains a key importer of US chicken feet, pork ears, and offal, valued in Chinese cuisine. The US also imports chicken and pork from China, though in smaller amounts, and concerns about food safety and quality have been raised. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing trade tensions have further impacted the trade relationship between the two countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does China import chicken from the USA? | Yes, since 2019. |
| Does the USA import chicken from China? | Yes, since 2017. |
| Does China import pork from the USA? | Yes. |
| Does the USA import pork from China? | Yes, but not in large quantities. |
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What You'll Learn
China lifted its ban on US chicken imports in 2019
China had banned all poultry trade from the United States since 2015 due to outbreaks of avian influenza. In November 2019, China lifted this ban on US chicken imports, which was announced before the Phase One trade agreement was signed. The agreement to lift the ban was not directly tied to the Phase One deal, but provisions in the deal should strengthen export access for the US chicken industry.
The US poultry industry welcomed the move, with shares of American poultry producers soaring on the announcement. It was estimated that US chicken paw exports to China alone could reach $1 billion annually, with other chicken meat exports potentially adding another $1 billion. China's decision to lift the ban was partly due to an unprecedented shortage of protein in the country after a fatal hog disease killed millions of pigs.
Following China's decision, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Chinese domestic chicken could be exported to the US if the products were fully cooked. This marked the first time China gained access to the US market, which was more than 15 years in the making. However, it is important to note that additional "trade war" duties still apply to US chicken meat exports to China, which erode the competitive price advantage of US products.
It is worth mentioning that disruptions to the US-China chicken trade have occurred in the past. For example, in 2010, China retaliated against US tire tariffs by imposing high antidumping and countervailing duties on US chicken exports, significantly slowing the flow of exports.
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The US exports chicken paws to China
Chicken paws, or the clawed part of a bird's anatomy, are not a popular food item in the US. However, in China, they are a gastronomic smash, known as "phoenix talons". They are eaten everywhere, from formal banquet halls to street market stands. Chicken paws are more valuable to US chicken producers in China than in the US, where they would otherwise be sold to renderers for pennies on the pound. In China, they command an average price of nearly $1.10 per pound.
In 2020, more than 201,000 metric tons of chicken paws were exported to China, generating $460 million in revenue. The demand for chicken paws has also increased demand for other parts of the chicken, primarily leg meat. Chicken paw exports to China started slowly in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including shipping and port issues in China. However, they increased rapidly that spring, and the demand for US chicken paws in China has continued to grow.
The US poultry industry believes that exports of chicken paws to China could reach $1 billion annually. Chicken feet are valued at about $0.05 per pound in the US domestic market, but China will pay closer to $1.00 per pound. This is because chicken paws are highly desired in China, whereas in the US, they are often ignored or maligned as a food item. The difference in demand for chicken paws between the two countries has created a unique trade relationship between the US and China.
In 2019, China lifted its ban on importing US chicken that had been in place since 2015 following a US outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This agreement was announced before the Phase One trade agreement was signed with China. While the agreements on chicken were not directly tied to the Phase One deal, provisions agreed to in Phase One should strengthen export access for the US chicken industry. At the same time, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Chinese domestic chicken could be exported to the US if the products were fully cooked, granting China access to the US market for the first time.
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The US imports chicken from China
In 2020, the US imported more chicken from Canada and Mexico than from China. However, China is a key importer of US chicken feet, a product that is much more popular in China than in the US. In 2008, the US shipped more than 420,000 tons of chicken feet to China, with exports valued at $682 million.
In 2015, China banned the import of US chicken due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This ban was lifted in 2019, and in 2024, China imported $16.26 billion worth of US chicken. In 2025, China renewed export registrations for US poultry plants, allowing hundreds of US facilities to export to China.
The US also imports cooked chicken products 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. Chinese processing plants are allowed to process raw poultry from the US and export the cooked product back to the US.
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China's inspection system is equivalent to that of the US
China's inspection system is considered equivalent to that of the US, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). This means that China's inspection system provides the same level of food safety as the US. FSIS auditors focus on several equivalence components, including government oversight, statutory authority, food safety regulations, consumer protection regulations, inspection system operation, product standards and labelling, humane handling, and government microbiological testing programs.
In 2006, FSIS ruled that China was eligible to export processed poultry products to the US as long as the poultry was slaughtered in the US or other countries already approved by the US for poultry exports. However, Congress prohibited FSIS from using funds to implement this rule until 2010, when they allowed it under certain conditions, including enhanced auditing and review of the Chinese system. In 2017, the rules were changed again, and China was allowed to export processed chicken to the US if the poultry was fully cooked and packaged before export. However, the raw poultry used for these processed products must originate in the US, Canada, or other countries approved by the US for poultry exports.
Despite the FSIS's determination, food safety advocates in the US have criticised the decision to allow chicken processed in China to be sold in the US. Outbreaks of avian influenza, tainted baby formula, and other food safety scandals have triggered concerns about the integrity of food safety processes in China. To address these concerns, FSIS conducts rigorous inspections of imported meat, poultry, and egg products, ensuring that the exporting country has an equivalent food safety inspection system.
China also has strict requirements for importing meat and meat products. The exporting country must submit a written application to the General Administration of China Customs, and China will decide whether to initiate the access procedure based on the animal epidemic situation in the exporting country. If the procedure is initiated, China sends a risk assessment questionnaire to the exporting country and then evaluates the response. If the safety and hygiene conditions of the meat products are deemed acceptable, China will send a team of experts to conduct an on-site inspection. Imported meat and meat products must pass inspection and quarantine according to conformity assessment procedures and obtain the necessary certificates before being sold and consumed in China.
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China imposes tariffs on US pork
China has imposed tariffs on US pork, which has impacted the US pork industry. The tariffs were introduced at a time when Chinese domestic pork production was expanding, and hog prices were low. The specific details of the tariffs include:
- A 12-month rolling average showed that US pork exports to China fell by 35% in quantity and 40% in value due to the tariffs.
- Using a 15-month timeframe, US pork exports to China still decreased by 23% in quantity and 19% in value.
- Other factors, such as the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), may have also contributed to the decline in exports to China, even with the tariffs in place.
- The long-term trend shows that pork imports from the US to China have been increasing.
- Brazil and Canada benefited from the tariffs, with significant increases in their exports to China for frozen pork and other meat products.
- The value of exports to China from other countries, excluding the EU (the top global exporter of pork to China), decreased under the tariffs.
The US and China have had a complex relationship regarding the trade of chicken and pork. In 2019, China lifted its ban on importing US chicken, which had been in place since 2015 due to an avian influenza outbreak. At the same time, the US allowed China to export cooked chicken to the US, which was a result of a trade deal supported by then-President Donald Trump. However, there have been disruptions to the US-China chicken trade, with China imposing high anti-dumping and countervailing duties on US chicken exports in 2009. These duties were imposed in retaliation for US actions on tire imports, though China denied a direct link.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, China imports chicken and pork from the USA. In 2025, Beijing renewed registrations to allow hundreds of U.S. pork and poultry facilities to export to China.
Chicken exports from the US to China have been disrupted over the years. A ban was placed on US chicken in 2015 following an outbreak of avian influenza, which was lifted in 2019. Chicken exports were also impacted in 2010 by a trade dispute over tires.
US pork exports to China have been impacted by trade tensions. In 2025, China renewed registrations for US pork facilities, but those for beef facilities were not renewed. China has also imposed tariffs on US pork.
Yes, the US imports chicken from China, although in smaller amounts. In 2017, the first known shipment of cooked chicken from poultry raised in China arrived in the US.
There are concerns about the safety of chicken imported from China due to food safety scandals and disease outbreaks. There are also concerns about the economic implications of the US importing chicken from China.
