US frozen beef exports to China surge, adding to Canberra-Beijing tensions but boosting trade deal
- US exported US$107 million worth of frozen beef to China in July, compared to just US$35 million from traditional export destination Australia
- China informally banned a series of goods from Australia, including coal, log timber and wine last year amid 18 months of tensions between Canberra and Beijing
The United States has leapfrogged Australia as the leading exporter of frozen beef to China, with Chinese trade data further highlighting the fallout from ongoing tensions between Canberra and Beijing while helping further the progress of the phase-one trade deal.
Australia has traditionally exported more frozen beef to China, but since April its exports have plunged, with the gap between the two widening quickly in favour of the US.
In April, the US shipped US$68 million worth of frozen beef to China compared to US$80 million from Australia, according to Chinese customs. In May, trade patterns reversed and the US had shipped US$90 million of frozen beef to China compared to Australia’s US$47 million.
US exports kept rising and hit US$107 million last month, with Australian shipments falling to US$35 million, flipping the trade pattern seen a year ago.
Australia still dominates exports of chilled beef – another popular export to China – but the gap is also closing, although experts have said chilled beef from the US remains more expensive than imports from Australia and New Zealand.
