BEIJING, March 19 – In a significant move for global poultry trade, China has lifted its two-year ban on poultry imports from Argentina, restoring a vital supply channel amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
The ban was originally imposed in March 2023 after Argentina detected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry. However, following a comprehensive risk analysis, China’s General Administration of Customs announced that poultry imports from Argentina would resume starting March 17. The statement did not specify details of the risk assessment but confirmed the approval.
Before the ban, Argentina ranked as China’s third-largest supplier of chicken products, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The reinstatement of trade is expected to stabilize poultry supply chains and offer Argentine producers renewed access to one of the world’s largest poultry markets.
The decision also comes amid an ongoing trade standoff between China and the U.S., where Beijing has imposed a 15% import duty on American chicken as part of broader tariffs covering $21 billion worth of U.S. agricultural and food products. In 2023, the U.S. was China’s third-largest meat supplier, contributing 590,000 tons—approximately 9% of the country’s total meat imports.
For the global poultry industry, including stakeholders in markets like India, the lifting of the Argentine ban may influence pricing and supply chain dynamics. With Argentina regaining its position as a key supplier, competition in the Chinese poultry market is expected to intensify, potentially affecting global poultry trade flows.
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