US Farmers Look Past Trade Fears to Cash In on China’s Hog Crisis

A chef cuts U.S. imported pork ribs that were smoked at the Beijing barbeque restaurant Home Plate in China that specializes in meat from the U.S., June 29, 2018. Thomas Peter/Reuters

WALCOTT, Iowa/LONDON—It might seem an unlikely time for U.S. farmers to look to China for more business, but the devastating impact of African swine fever on the Chinese pork industry is trumping concerns about trade wars and tariffs.

Experts estimate the disease will wipe out about a third of China’s pork production this year, or 18 million tonnes. That’s twice the amount of pork exported worldwide every year and enough to feed U.S. consumers for almost two years.