China Halts Import of Jokbal from US Meat Companies: "Fails Safety Standards"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] China has announced it will halt imports of meat products produced by the U.S. meat processing company Tyson Foods. The Chinese government cited failure to meet food safety standards as the reason, but the move is interpreted as a response to the recent deterioration in U.S.-China relations over issues such as the Taiwan matter and tariffs.

According to Bloomberg News on the 29th (local time), Chinese customs authorities announced on their website that they have stopped imports of products produced at a factory owned by Tyson Fresh Meats, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, starting from that day due to the failure of Tyson Foods' pig trotters to pass food inspections. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also announced on its website that Chinese authorities have imposed import suspension measures on meat products produced at Tyson Foods' facility in Logansport, Indiana.

Tyson Foods stated in a press release, "We are working closely with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to confirm that all products are produced in full compliance with government safety requirements," adding, "We are confident in the safety of our products and hope this issue will be resolved through consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments."

Recently, the Chinese government also decided to suspend imports of meat products produced at two other U.S. plants due to the detection of the growth promoter ractopamine. Ractopamine is a feed additive banned in China but permitted in the U.S. This is widely interpreted as a retaliatory measure stemming from the worsening relations between the two countries rather than a genuine safety concern.

Pan Chenjun, a senior analyst at Rabobank in the Netherlands, told Bloomberg News, "Since many meat products from U.S. plants are still open for export to China, this measure by Chinese authorities is unlikely to have a significant impact on bilateral meat trade." However, he noted, "It is noteworthy that this import suspension came at a time when Chinese importers are trying to increase pork imports."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.