China Renews, Then Halts Licenses for Hundreds of US Beef Exporters Amid Trump-Xi Summit

China renewed licenses for hundreds of US beef exporters on May 14, 2026, as part of the Trump-Xi summit. However, the licenses were shortly halted, effectively blocking exports. The action affected major US beef producers, including Tyson Foods and Cargill, which had previously secured permits to export to China. Reuters reported that China both renewed and halted licenses for US beef exporters, citing the summit as the context. The Straits Times, however, noted that China renewed import permits for US beef plants, without specifying the reversal. The divergence in reporting highlights the ambiguity in the timeline and scope of the decision.