By Jamie Martin
The U.S. pork industry is set to benefit from newly signed trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, following ongoing efforts by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to expand export markets for American farmers.
Under the new deals, Malaysia has agreed to accept pork from all U.S. plants listed under the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) directory without requiring any additional facility registrations. Cambodia will adopt the same terms, easing export operations for producers. Malaysia also plans to recognize the U.S. African Swine Fever protection zone within 15 months and complete a regionalization agreement to further enhance trade security.
“America’s pork producers are grateful to President Trump for increasing market access for U.S. pork to Malaysia, a country that has been importing pork despite limited plants being eligible for export,” said NPPC President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio. “More than 25% of U.S. pork production is exported, so producers count on exports to help keep their farms afloat, especially in times of uncertainty.”
The agreements, supported by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and USDA, have already shown strong results. U.S. pork exports to Malaysia reached record levels of $24.5 million in 2024, marking a 1,700% rise in just five years.
Beyond trade growth, the pork sector plays a vital role in rural America, supporting 140,000 jobs nationwide and contributing more than $66 in export value per hog. These deals reflect a continued push to strengthen agricultural exports and ensure long-term stability for producers across the country.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-artiemedvedev
Categories: National