China reduces purchases from the USA and expands importation of beef from Brazil and Australia

Australian beef has filled the gap left by the United States in the Chinese market since Donald Trump's return to the White House. The shift has channeled hundreds of millions of dollars that were previously destined for American cattle into Australian coffers and has also reinforced Brazil's position as the largest supplier of beef to China. According to the Reuters agency, U.S. shipments to China, which were around $120 million per month, collapsed after Beijing allowed the licenses of hundreds of American slaughterhouses to expire in March amid the escalation of the tariff war initiated by Trump. The value of American exports plummeted to just $8.1 million in July and $9.5 million in August, compared to $118 million and $125 million in the same months of 2024. Australia filled part of this gap, raising its sales from an average of $140 million monthly to $221 million in July and $226 million in August. Although Australia was the main beneficiary in the short term, China also ...