WHAT HAPPENED: A bipartisan group of more than two dozen House members sent a letter on August 28 to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urging continued pressure on China to fully comply with the U.S.-China HPAI Regionalization Agreement. The letter, signed by 29 lawmakers, representing a majority of the districts that have production and are impacted by the bans, thanked Ambassador Greer for prioritizing chicken market access in recent negotiations with China but pressed for further action to remove remaining restrictions on U.S. chicken exports.
CATCH UP QUICKLY: The letter traces the dispute back to a March 2020 Regionalization Agreement, part of the Phase One Trade Agreement, which was designed to limit trade disruptions from HPAI detections by imposing only statewide (rather than nationwide) bans, with resumption of trade 90 days after virus elimination. While China initially followed those terms after the 2022 HPAI outbreak began, the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) reinstated broader bans in August 2022. By April 2026, 44 states were ineligible to export raw chicken to China — representing nearly 98 percent of registered U.S. chicken facilities.
Following President Trump’s May 2026 visit to China, GACC agreed to resume imports from HPAI-free states as designated by APHIS, lifting restrictions on 17 states. However, the lawmakers note China has not adhered to the agreed five-business-day window for lifting restrictions after receiving APHIS closeout reports. As of August 2026, 21 states remain banned, representing 34 percent of U.S. chicken production, though the letter acknowledges GACC recently lifted restrictions for eight additional states.
WHY IT MATTERS: China’s inconsistent enforcement of the Regionalization Agreement has significantly constrained one of the U.S. chicken industry’s most valuable export markets, particularly for paws and dark meat cuts with limited domestic demand. As recently as 2022, China was the second-largest export market for U.S. chicken, with more than 622,000 metric tons valued at over $1.1 billion. By 2025, shipments had fallen to just 93,978 metric tons valued at $291 million. The letter estimates China’s noncompliance with HPAI regionalization and relisting terms is costing American chicken producers more than $800 million annually.
NCC’s TAKE: NCC strongly welcomes this bipartisan letter and shares the lawmakers’ frustration with China’s inconsistent adherence to the HPAI Regionalization Agreement. We appreciate USTR’s work securing the recent state re-listings and echo the letter’s call for continued, sustained pressure on Beijing to honor its commitments. NCC will continue working with USTR, USDA, and Congress to press for full restoration of market access for all eligible states.
WHAT’S NEXT: The letter identifies Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina as states expected to soon meet the Regionalization Agreement’s provisions for lifted restrictions, pending no additional HPAI detections and timely Chinese action on APHIS closeout reports. Lawmakers are urging USTR to continue raising the issue with Chinese counterparts at every opportunity.
Source: Magnific
