China’s Pork Market Starts a New Cycle: A Different Cycle in a Transitional Time

China’s pork market started a new cycle around mid-2022. This cycle will be different from previous ones, as market conditions have changed a lot. We expect to see less price volatility, a shorter length, and more government monitoring. Policies, a new industry structure, sustainability concerns, and consumer trends will continue to influence the market’s development.

This cycle will offer market opportunities to both...

NRF Responds to Rising CPI by Urging Administration to Repeal China Tariffs

The National Retail Federation today called on the Biden administration to repeal tariffs on goods from China, citing Consumer Price Index numbers released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“This report showing that rampant inflation continues is one more reason for the administration to move quickly to repeal tariffs,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Independent researchers and government agencies agree that ending tariffs is the fastest way to relieve the pressure of higher prices that American businesses, workers and consumers are facing every day...

USMEF Spring Conference Spotlights U.S.-China Trade Relations, Innovative Promotions for US Red Meat

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) concluded its spring conference Friday in San Antonio. The three-day meeting examined a number of key issues for U.S. exporters while also updating members on promotional activities for U.S. pork, beef and lamb in a wide range of international markets.

Thursday’s general session focused on agricultural trade relations between the U.S. and China, including a deep dive into the market access gains achieved for U.S. beef and pork through the 2020 Phase One Trade and Economic Agreement...

JD.com’s SEVEN FRESH Supermarket Rolls Out Autonomous Vehicles as COVID Cases Surge in China

JD.com has rolled out autonomous vehicles in the city of Shenzhen to deliver groceries through their fresh food supermarket, SEVEN FRESH.

The City of Shenzhen, which links Hong Kong to mainland China, saw a spike in COVID-19 cases earlier this month. China has a strict “zero-COVID” policy, so Shenzhen was put under lockdowns and hit with additional restrictions in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. To ensure food supply with no-contact, JD.com introduced their autonomous delivery vehicles...

China’s Foodservice Industry Recovers After Experiencing Sharp Declines in 2020

Western-style quick service restaurants outperformed Chinese-style counterparts in 2021

According to The NPD Group, China’s foodservice industry ended 2021 showing signs of recovery after a tumultuous two-year period full of uncertainty brought on by COVID-19 and stringent lockdown measures throughout the country.

Thanks to vaccination rollouts and easing restrictions across the country, China reported a recovery in the first half of the year across the 22 Chinese cities tracked by NPD for the foodservice industry.

There was growth for both foot traffic and spend over the...

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Imported Meat and Poultry Products from China

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for an undetermined amount of imported meat and poultry products from China. A recall was not requested because FSIS has been unable to identify and contact the importers. The total amount of ineligible product is undetermined because the investigation is ongoing.

The products subject to the public health alert and labels are listed here.

The meat and poultry products do not identify an eligible establishment number on their...

JD Fresh Partners with World’s Largest Meat Supplier JBS

JBS, the world’s largest meat supplier, partnered with JD Fresh, JD.com’s fresh food business, marking the Brazil-based meat supplier’s first foray into retail business in China. Under the partnership, JBS will launch a flagship store on JD.com.

With 220 factories across the world, JBS offers a wide selection of beef products from many countries, such as Brazil, the United States, Australia, and more.

Through the partnership, JD Fresh will help JBS connect with over 550 million customers on JD.com, providing Chinese consumers with diverse and high-quality choices of meat...

REPORTER: The Massive Chinese Market Attracts Plant-Based Innovators

This article was originally featured in the Fall 2021 Edition of Urner Barry's Reporter magazine.

As Chinese consumers seek more protein in their diets and plant-based foods become readily available, alternatives to meat are gaining acceptance in China. Although plantbased protein currently has a small serving share compared to traditional meat in China, The NPD Group reports that awareness has reached 90%. The retention rate for plant-based proteins is on the rise, increasing from 53% in October 2020 to 68% in January 2021...

NRF Statement on Biden Administration’s China Trade Policy

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French in response to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s announcement on the Biden administration’s China trade policy.

“American businesses across the country continue to be severely impacted by the tariffs put into place by the previous administration. Today’s long-awaited announcement proved the Biden administration’s trade strategy on China to be lackluster at most, and will further inflict unnecessary damage to the American economy and retail supply chains.

“The continuation of these harmful..."