U.S. beef exports to China fell sharply after Chinese authorities did not renew U.S. plant registrations, but the lapse did not mean every shipment stopped immediately—and it is no longer accurate to say that all the registrations remain expired. In a 2026 update, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said China extended 425 overdue registrations and added 77 new ones, while 38 establishments remained suspended. A renewed registration did not, by itself, restore export eligibility for suspended plants.
What happened to U.S. beef registrations in China?
China requires U.S. establishments that slaughter and process beef for export to be listed as eligible by its General Administration of Customs (GACC). In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported that registrations for four U.S. beef establishments had lapsed and that GACC had not acted on U.S. renewal requests.
At that point, GACC had cleared shipments from facilities whose registrations had lapsed, USDA FAS reported. The lapse therefore created a growing market-access risk rather than an instant stop to every shipment. More expirations were expected in March and April 2025.
The problem expanded. USDA FAS’s later China livestock annual report said that more than 400 U.S. beef establishments remained expired in China’s CIFER registration system. It also reported that GACC renewed six U.S. beef establishments in July 2025. Those are historical figures: the expired-registration count predates the broader extensions reported in 2026.
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How the lapse showed up in export figures
USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) said U.S. beef exports to China fell off in April 2025, linking the decline to non-renewal of the registrations. China had been the third-largest U.S. beef market from 2021 through 2024; using data through November 2025, it had fallen outside the top five.
In its February 2026 outlook, USDA ERS reported that U.S. beef exports to China in November 2025 were nearly 38 million pounds lower than in November 2024, a year-over-year decline of 96 percent. This is a comparison for November 2025, not a current monthly shipment figure.
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For later monthly export quantities by destination, USDA ERS’s Livestock and Meat International Trade Data uses official U.S. Census trade statistics converted to carcass-weight-equivalent pounds for meat. The dataset page was updated September 4, 2026, and listed October 7, 2026 as its next update. No October figure is established here.
What changed in 2026—and what did not
USMEF, an industry association, reported that GACC extended 425 overdue U.S. beef establishment registrations for five years and added 77 new registrations effective May 15, 2026. It also said 38 establishments remained suspended. Of those 38, 25 had renewed registrations but were still ineligible to export.
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These counts describe different conditions. Registration indicates that an establishment is listed; suspension or eligibility determines whether it may currently ship. The 2026 extensions changed the registration picture, but they did not automatically resolve every plant’s export status.
The U.S. Trade Representative’s 2026 National Trade Estimate describes the U.S. government’s position that China failed to renew more than 400 registrations and discusses disputes involving alleged hormone-residue detections and later facility suspensions. Those are USTR’s descriptions of the U.S. position, not findings presented here as independently adjudicated facts. Its more-than-400 figure concerns the earlier period, before the extensions reported by USMEF.
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Registration is only one market-access constraint
Facility listing, export eligibility, product certification and China’s safeguard measure are separate issues. Clearing one does not establish that the others have been cleared.
| Constraint | What it determines | What the available information establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Facility registration | Whether an establishment appears on GACC’s eligible list. | USMEF reported 425 overdue registrations extended for five years and 77 new registrations effective May 15, 2026. |
| Suspension or export eligibility | Whether a listed facility is currently permitted to ship. | USMEF reported 38 facilities remained suspended; 25 had renewed registrations but remained ineligible. |
| Product and certificate rules | Whether a specific product and shipment meet applicable U.S. and Chinese export requirements. | FSIS directs exporters to consult its live China Export Library and confirm the facility’s listing before applying for export certification. |
| Safeguard measure | Trade treatment for specified beef products, separate from facility listing. | The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that China’s safeguard measure covers specified fresh, chilled or frozen beef categories from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. The applicable quota and duty treatment depends on the product and allocation; the dates alone do not establish those details. |
The Commerce notice establishes the safeguard period and product scope, but it does not identify the safeguard as the cause of the 2025 registration lapses or the remaining facility suspensions.
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How exporters can check current eligibility
Export status can change, so exporters should use the current official lists and requirements rather than relying on the historical counts above. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says facilities approved for China must be on GACC’s website before they slaughter and process products for export there. FSIS sends GACC an updated facility list monthly.
- Check the GACC eligible-establishment list. Confirm that the specific facility is listed before arranging production for China.
- Check for a suspension or other eligibility restriction. Do not treat a renewed registration as proof that the facility is currently authorized to export.
- Consult the FSIS China Export Library. Verify the current product and certificate requirements before applying for an export certificate.
- Follow the FSIS facility-listing process if needed. FSIS says facilities seeking listing must submit the specified form through PHIS; consult current FSIS instructions for the form and submission details.
- Use USDA APHIS’s China export portal for current country requirements. As of its September 28, 2026 update, the portal pointed exporters to September 2026 trade-ban information and June 2026 facility-registration information.
Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have separate import requirements. Exporters should check the requirements for the actual destination rather than assuming mainland rules apply across all three.
Why the distinction matters
The episode had two different timelines: the registration lapse began in 2025 and coincided with a steep decline in exports; later extensions changed the count of overdue registrations, while suspensions continued to affect individual facilities. China’s separate safeguard measure began in 2026. For readers tracking the trade impact, monthly export data shows shipment trends, while facility lists and product rules determine whether a particular establishment and shipment can qualify.
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