China Lifts Two-Year Ban on Argentine Poultry Imports Amid U.S. Trade War

In a significant boost for Argentina’s poultry industry, China has officially lifted a two-year ban on Argentine poultry imports, reopening a key trade channel as tensions with the United States escalate. The move comes at a crucial time, given Beijing’s recent imposition of steep tariffs on American poultry products.

Background: Why Did China Ban Argentine Poultry?

The suspension of Argentine poultry exports dates back to February 2023, when the South American nation detected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial birds. In response, China swiftly imposed an import ban in March 2023 as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus.

Following extensive health and safety evaluations, China’s General Administration of Customs announced that poultry imports from Argentina will resume starting March 17, 2025. The decision reflects China’s confidence in Argentina’s measures to control and eradicate avian influenza.

China’s Strategic Move Amid Trade War with the U.S.

The timing of this policy shift is particularly noteworthy. It coincides with a growing trade dispute between China and the United States, where Beijing recently slapped a 15% import tariff on U.S. chicken. The tariff is part of a broader package of retaliatory measures covering $21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products.

Before the ban, Argentina was China’s third-largest poultry supplier, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With the restriction now lifted, Argentina is poised to regain its market position and potentially expand its share, especially as American poultry products become more expensive for Chinese buyers.

Argentina’s Poultry Industry to Reap Major Benefits

For Argentina, this decision is a game-changer. The country has long been a major player in the global poultry trade, and re-entering the lucrative Chinese market is expected to provide a much-needed economic boost.

China is one of the world’s largest consumers of poultry, and with demand steadily rising, Argentina’s exporters stand to benefit significantly from this reopening. The South American nation will once again compete alongside Brazil and the U.S. in supplying China with chicken products, a trade worth billions annually.

With imports set to resume, Argentine poultry producers are gearing up to ramp up production and exports to meet Chinese demand. Meanwhile, global trade analysts are closely watching how this shift will impact the poultry market and whether the U.S. will seek alternative trade avenues to counterbalance China’s latest move.

As the geopolitical and economic landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Argentina’s poultry industry just got a significant lifeline, and China’s strategic trade maneuvers are far from over.