China-Owned Smithfield Foods Closing Plants, Threatening US Meat Supply

1. While Americans are forced inside their homes by a virus born in China, what is to say our meat supply isn’t vulnerable to being held hostage by China’s authoritarian regime? WH Group describes itself as “a Hong Kong-based privately held company that owns a variety of food and logistics enterprises.” But exactly how private is a privately owned Chinese company? The U.K. Guardian reported in 2019 that in his first term in office, Chinese President Xi Jinping “has overseen a sea change in how the party approaches the economy, dramatically strengthening the party’s role in both government and private businesses.” Have we ignored yet another potential danger from China by allowing its corporations to buy and own vital American businesses and industries, especially those that relate to national supply chains? Why is such a valuable asset, such as Smithfield, in the hands of a Chinese company? What happens if China’s government uses its influence over private enterprise as a strategic tool of the state to wage an economic war against the U.S.? It has become abundantly clear that China is no ally to Americans — or to American farmers.
2. “The market is continuing to drop way below the cost of production for any hog farmer, depending on their overhead, it doesn’t matter at this point in time.” Illinois Pork Production Association Executive Director Jennifer Tirey told WICS the consequences for farmers during the crisis are “devastating.” When looking at the struggles of American farmers, it really should open some eyes as to why China — the United States’ greatest geopolitical rival — was allowed to get a huge stake in such a critical portion of America’s food supply chain.

https://www.westernjournal.com/china-owned-smithfield-foods-closing-plants-threatening-us-meat-supply/