The meat industry is coming under criticism for maintaining a high rate of exports to China while American meat supplies are under threat from the coronavirus situation.
The number of pigs slaughtered has gone down by about 40% since mid-March, due to the closing of large pork processing plants by Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods and others. The situation has led to shortages at retailers and restrictions in customers’ purchases.
But while the total hog slaughter dropped, pork exports to China more than quadrupled over the same period, according to a report from Reuters. Smithfield, owned by a Chinese parent company, shipped the most pork to China of any American processor, at more than 13,000 tons, according to an estimate cited by Reuters.
Demand for pork in China was acute before the coronavirus pandemic because of a disease that wiped out more than half of China’s swine herd. A trade deal signed at the beginning of the year clears the way for China to buy more agricultural commodities, including pork. This year to date, about 31% of American pork has been exported, with one-third of that going to China.
“That tragic outcome is all the worse when the food being processed is not going to our nation’s families,” said U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D – Conn.) told Reuters. “That is what the Defense Production Act is all about: protecting America’s national interests, not China’s.” President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to prevent local authorities from closing meat plants.
