China bans Chile poultry imports over bird flu
Chinese customs officials suspended all poultry imports from Chile today to protect local biosecurity. The ban follows a recent avian influenza outbreak in Chile.
China banned all poultry imports from Chile following a bird flu outbreak in the South American nation. This immediate suspension halts a trade relationship that only resumed in late 2024 after an 18-month hiatus. For investors, the move signals tighter Chinese biosecurity protocols that could disrupt global protein supply chains and favor domestic producers.
### Why the Trade Resumption Failed The General Administration of Customs of China cited the need to protect its livestock industry and national biosecurity in a statement. Under the new order, any Chilean poultry products arriving at the border will be destroyed. This reversal comes less than two years after Chile regained access to the Chinese market, which previously absorbed 15% of its total poultry exports. China has previously suspended exports from Chile due to bird flu, underscoring a historical pattern of trade disruptions over biosecurity concerns.
