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Pork Industry Focuses on Latin American Trade Corridors as Global Competition Tightens

U.S. pork export operations are maintaining a strong focus on expanding Western Hemisphere trade corridors to balance global market availability and maximize total carcass utilization. Recent market evaluations from international trade groups show that consistent product movement to key Latin American destinations—including Mexico, Colombia, and Central America—continues to absorb high volumes of fresh primals and pork variety meats.

Trade representatives emphasize that variety meat shipments provide essential structural support to domestic live hog valuations, generating upward of $10 per head in added drop credit value. Unrestricted, duty-free access secured under regional free trade agreements enables domestic processors to maintain efficient clearance schedules for specialized cuts that face lower demand in domestic retail channels.

Industry analysts note that preserving seamless cross-border transit protocols remains a top priority for trade negotiators. Establishing stable regionalization frameworks and resolving non-tariff sanitary barriers ensures that U.S. swine operations remain competitive against South American and European exporters. Sustained export clearance to high-value international destinations continues to cushion independent producers against seasonal spot market swings.

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What It Takes to Stop African Swine Fever - Dr. Jishu Shi

Video: What It Takes to Stop African Swine Fever - Dr. Jishu Shi



In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jishu Shi, Professor of Vaccine Immunology at Kansas State University, discusses African swine fever prevention and vaccine development. He explains why ASF differs from classical swine fever and swine influenza, how the disease threatens trade and pork production, why immunization safety remains a critical hurdle, and what producers can do now to reduce the risk of introduction. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Before a safe and efficacious vaccine for ASF can be commercialized, what we really have is prevention."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jishu Shi is Professor of Vaccine Immunology and the Dr. Wayne & Hilda Appleton Endowed Professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He directs the Center on Biologics Development and Evaluation and the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health. A veterinarian and vaccine immunologist, Dr. Shi has focused on vaccines for pigs and has worked on African swine fever vaccine development, control, diagnostics, and international training since 2018. Learn more from Dr. Jishu Shi on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.