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USMEF head more optimistic about China

The head of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is optimistic that U.S. beef exports to China could resume in 2016.

The Chinese market has been closed to U.S. beef since the first case of BSE in the U.S. in 2003. But USMEF president and CEO Phil Seng says he senses a renewed commitment to reopening the Chinese market.

“I think the fact that the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) is concluded is going to allow some of our negotiators more time to be in some of these other markets that we want to deal with,” Seng tells Brownfield. “The industry is very focused on China right now. They’re very focused on the traceability issue that’s been a major issue with the Chinese. So hopefully we’ll start seeing some promising news coming out of China in the very near future.”

Seng says China exceeded the U.S. this year as the world’s largest import market for beef. He says the potential is tremendous.

“It’s the fastest growing import market for beef. So it’s a market that we have to really channel all of our resources to really get back in there,” Seng says.

AUDIO: Phil Seng