After Extending Permits for US Beef Exporters, Beijing Reverses to Suspension; Experts Call It a Move in Trade Negotiations
Behind the scenes of the US-China summit, China reversed its decision to extend permits for hundreds of US beef exporters, changing their status to 'suspended' just hours later. Experts view this as a bargaining chip by the Chinese side in US-China trade negotiations.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 20:10
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(Central News Agency, Beijing, 14th, 종합외신) Reuters reported today that as the US-China presidential summit took place in Beijing, Chinese customs 'suspended' the permits of hundreds of American beef exporters today. This came just hours after Reuters had reported that the long-awaited permits for US beef exporters had been extended.
Over the past year, more than 400 US beef processing plants had lost their export qualifications. Beijing had granted permits between March 2020 and April 2021, but these were not extended as is customary upon expiration, affecting about 65% of previously registered firms.
The White House had indicated in recent weeks that this issue would be raised at the Trump-Xi summit. For US beef exporters, the extension of permits by Beijing was seen as a major victory.
However, according to the website of the General Administration of Customs of China, the registration status of these US beef exporters was briefly listed as 'valid' earlier today before being changed back to 'expired.'
Reuters was unable to reach the General Administration of Customs of China by phone, and the department did not immediately respond to a faxed inquiry from Reuters about the reason for the change. Several Chinese beef company executives contacted by Reuters declined to comment or be named, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
'One thing is certain, this matter is a card played by China in bilateral trade negotiations. It is very effective in sending a signal, and the actual risk is completely controllable. This is why we see such a dramatic reversal,' said Xu Hongzhi, a senior analyst at Beijing-based Orient Agribusiness Consultant. He added that it was not yet clear what specifically prompted the reversal.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), Chinese President Xi Jinping called for both sides to expand cooperation in areas such as trade and agriculture during his bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump today.
The delegation of US CEOs accompanying Trump on his visit includes Cargill CEO Brian Sikes. When the list of extended permits first appeared on the customs website, plants owned by Cargill and Tyson Foods were among them.
Due to the US-China trade war, US beef exports to China have fallen from a peak of $1.7 billion in 2022 to only about $500 million last year. (Compiled by: Liu Shu-chin) 1150514
Over the past year, more than 400 US beef processing plants had lost their export qualifications. Beijing had granted permits between March 2020 and April 2021, but these were not extended as is customary upon expiration, affecting about 65% of previously registered firms.
The White House had indicated in recent weeks that this issue would be raised at the Trump-Xi summit. For US beef exporters, the extension of permits by Beijing was seen as a major victory.
However, according to the website of the General Administration of Customs of China, the registration status of these US beef exporters was briefly listed as 'valid' earlier today before being changed back to 'expired.'
Reuters was unable to reach the General Administration of Customs of China by phone, and the department did not immediately respond to a faxed inquiry from Reuters about the reason for the change. Several Chinese beef company executives contacted by Reuters declined to comment or be named, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
'One thing is certain, this matter is a card played by China in bilateral trade negotiations. It is very effective in sending a signal, and the actual risk is completely controllable. This is why we see such a dramatic reversal,' said Xu Hongzhi, a senior analyst at Beijing-based Orient Agribusiness Consultant. He added that it was not yet clear what specifically prompted the reversal.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), Chinese President Xi Jinping called for both sides to expand cooperation in areas such as trade and agriculture during his bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump today.
The delegation of US CEOs accompanying Trump on his visit includes Cargill CEO Brian Sikes. When the list of extended permits first appeared on the customs website, plants owned by Cargill and Tyson Foods were among them.
Due to the US-China trade war, US beef exports to China have fallen from a peak of $1.7 billion in 2022 to only about $500 million last year. (Compiled by: Liu Shu-chin) 1150514