In this week’s update from the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), pork producers made their voices heard on Capitol Hill, legislation was introduced to fix California’s controversial Proposition 12, tariff tensions escalated with China, and export data revealed a slight dip in U.S. pork shipments for early 2025.
🏛️ Pork Producers Lobby Lawmakers on Industry Priorities
Over 120 pork producers from 21 states gathered in Washington, D.C. for NPPC’s Legislative Action Conference, meeting with lawmakers and senior officials from the White House, USDA, EPA, and the Department of Labor.
NPPC’s leadership also held direct conversations with House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), advocating for labor reform, trade stability, and regulatory clarity.
🗨️ “These in-person conversations are vital to advancing policy that protects the livelihood of pork producers,” NPPC stated.
⚖️ Senators Introduce Federal Fix for Proposition 12
Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Food Security and Farm Protection Act, aimed at neutralizing the effects of California’s Proposition 12 and preventing other states from passing laws that affect out-of-state livestock production.
🔍 Why it matters:
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Adds federal consistency to animal housing laws.
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Helps producers avoid costly audits from out-of-state regulators.
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Prevents farm closures and pork price increases (as high as 41%).
NPPC President Duane Stateler called the legislation “critical relief” after what he described as “the worst 18 months of financial losses in history” for pork producers.
🌍 Trump Raises Tariffs on China Amid Trade Maneuvers
President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions with China by setting new tariffs of 125% on Chinese imports and increasing duties on low-value Chinese products. Meanwhile, tariffs on other countries were temporarily reduced to 10% for 90 days to encourage trade negotiations.
🔺 China’s retaliation has pushed pork tariffs to an effective 172%, making U.S. pork exports to the once-reliable Chinese market virtually uncompetitive.
NPPC emphasized the urgent need for new trade access and warned that competitors are now filling the void in China, previously the U.S.’s third-largest pork export market.
📉 Pork Exports Dip Slightly in Early 2025
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, January–February 2025 pork exports were down 2% in value and 3% in volume compared to the same period in 2024.
Despite a dip in total volume, Mexico remains a bright spot, importing more than $200 million in U.S. pork for the eighth straight month. Other growth markets included:
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Costa Rica: +93%
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Guatemala: +32%
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Honduras: +23%
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Cuba: +169%
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China: +9%
🚫 Drops in exports were primarily due to reduced shipments to Canada (-8%), Japan (-19%), and South Korea (-20%).
💬 “Exports are crucial,” NPPC noted. “In 2024, pork exports were worth $8.6 billion, contributing $66 per hog marketed and supporting over 140,000 U.S. jobs.”
📢 Swine Web is proud to share NPPC’s insights and remain a hub for news that supports pork producers across North America. For more updates and advocacy news, visit www.nppc.org.
