Donald Trump wants China to ‘buy American’ but it may backfire on meat imports
China could take its business elsewhere as tariffs on US pork and beef make them prohibitively expensive
A key objective of US President Donald Trump’s trade war is to pressure Beijing to “buy American”, but when it comes to millions of dollars of US meat imports, China may simply take its business elsewhere.
Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs on US pork and beef are making them prohibitively expensive and Chinese importers are simply turning to other sources, a trend expected in other sectors as well.
“When the US prices go so expensive after the duties ... we will source from other origins,” said Zhang Lihui, Shanghai manager for global meat company PMI Foods.
“Like for beef, we will buy more from Australia, we will buy more from South America, and maybe a little bit more from Canada.”
PMI Foods has already ceased importing cuts of US pork meat into China after Beijing’s tariffs – imposed last month in response to Trump’s initial duties on Chinese goods – drove prices up.
Shifting trade patterns caused by the tariff battle will “definitely” benefit other countries at America’s expense, Zhang said.