Canada Suspends Imports from Smithfield’s Largest U.S. Pork Plant Amid Trade Dispute

Mar 10, 2025

Canada has halted pork imports from Smithfield Foods’ Tar Heel, North Carolina, processing plant, the largest pork processing facility in the United States. The suspension, which took effect on Thursday, was posted on a USDA website, though details remain limited.

Trade Tensions and Pork Industry Impact

The suspension comes at a time of heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs. While the reason for the import halt has not been fully disclosed, Smithfield stated that the issue involves a “limited number of certain offal shipments.” The company is currently working with the USDA to resolve the situation.

This development follows President Donald Trump’s recent move to temporarily exempt Canada and Mexico from a newly imposed 25% tariff under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

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Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.