China plans to increase pork imports from the United States to demonstrate its commitment to ending the trade war through large purchases of US agricultural products. It is reported that this year China will purchase up to 300,000 tons of pork.

According to forecasts, Chinese imports will grow by 81% compared with the corresponding figure in 2017 before the start of the trade conflict with the United States. It is also reported that Asian imports could reach 200,000 tons during the first half of the year.

Demand for imported pork in China depends on the results of government efforts to control African swine fever in the country. A contagious disease tormented the nation by killing pigs in the country. The plague is not dangerous for humans, but fatal for pigs, spreading very quickly. The Chinese government has made every effort to combat the spread of the disease, including banning the import and export of pork products to neighboring countries. Hundreds of pigs have been killed during outbreaks that have affected many farms across the country.

The outbreak has led to a crushing decline in pig production in the country since its inception last August. Pork production in China is 15% percent, and this despite the fact that the Chinese are world leaders in pork consumption.

China's plans to import large quantities of agricultural products from the United States give hope that the trade war between the two countries will end. The trade frictions between the United States and China that began in 2018 greatly influenced trade, as both countries significantly “pushed” tariffs on each other’s products from the very beginning of the conflict.