China’s retaliatory duties are a major headwind for both US beef and pork, while beef exporters face an additional obstacle. April beef exports totalled 100,659 metric tons (mt), down 10% from a year ago, while value fell 8% to $824.5 million. Exports to China declined nearly 70% and shipments also trended lower to Mexico, Taiwan and the Middle East. For January through April, beef exports were 3% below last year’s pace at 411,027 mt. “We expected beef shipments to China to hit a wall in April, due to the one-two punch of higher tariffs and expired plant registrations,” said USMEF president and CEO Dan Halstrom.