100 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2026 PEERS CHINA PHASE ONE PROBE, USMCA REVIEW ARE CRITICAL FOR U.S. BEEF EXPORTS DAVE BRUNTZ | CHAIR-ELECT, U.S. MEAT EXPORT FEDERATION Many factors will impact beef exports in 2026, but ending China’s lockout of U.S. beef must be our industry’s top priority. China became a major beef importer about a dozen years ago and is now the world’s leading beef importer. U.S. beef was shut out of China after the 2003 BSE case and didn’t regain meaningful access until the 2020 U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement – popularly known as the Phase One Agreement – was signed during the first Trump administration. Under Phase One, China quickly became the third largest export destination for U.S. beef, trailing only South Korea and Japan. Exports to China peaked in 2022 – a record year for U.S. beef production – at more than $2.1 billion and remained above $1.5 billion in 2023 and 2024. But over the past year, China has not lived up to its Phase One commitments. This includes failure to renew registrations for U.S. beef plants and cold storage facilities, which were due for five-year renewals beginning in February 2025. With fewer and fewer eligible facilities, beef exports to China dwindled throughout the year and are now essentially at a standstill, with little or no eligible pipeline product left to ship. China has also suspended 20 U.S. beef plants since June and a total of 33 plants over the past three years, due to alleged technical violations. For the market to fully reopen, China must reinstate these plants as well as renew establishment registrations. China’s failure to meet these obligations is taking a toll on the U.S. industry. Through September 2025, our beef exports to China fell 57 percent year-overyear to 57,000 metric tons (mt), valued at less than $500 million (down 58 percent). This has opened the door for competitors – especially Australia – to capture customers who no longer have access to U.S. beef. China is now Australia’s largest destination for grain-fed beef exports, with shipments to China jumping more than 50 percent in 2025. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) estimates the lack of access CONTINUED ON PAGE 102 SCHAWANG Cattle Co. 29TH ANNUAL BEST OF ALL WORLDS SALE MARCH 21, 2026 (STORM DATE MARCH 28) 1:00 PM CST - At our homestead 3271 K Road - David City, NE • Lunch provided www.schawangcattle.net Selling 35 Bulls • 15 Open Heifers Level 5 Johnes Herd Certification Tested negative for BVD 23 years in a row Pelvic measured Satisfaction guaranteed Design by KWC Print Design Gelbvieh, Angus, Balancer, Simmental, & Red Angus Cross Randy & Mindy Schawang & SonS 402.367.2345 (Randy cell) 402.367.8280 (Mindy cell) Call or text for a catalog!
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