The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative held a hearing this week on the Phase One Trade Agreement with China, negotiated during President Trump’s first term.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the initial trade agreement delivered tremendous benefits for the U.S. beef industry.
He added American beef exports to China increased from $300 million in 2020 to over $2.1 billion in 2022, which was almost exclusively because of the Phase One deal implemented in 2020.
“It’s only recently that we’ve seen a backslide in terms of performance. We all know that this recent issue here in 2025, where the majority of the U.S. beef plants were not relisted in the China CIFER system,” Halstrom said.
“This is obviously one of the major beef industry concerns on the trade side of getting these plants relisted for China. So, I think the administration’s strategy is to hold China accountable to their commitments in the Phase One agreement in 2020.”
Halstrom added that American ranchers have been greatly impacted by China not living up to its Phase One commitments.
