The US is looking for ways to expand its export market in Asia, and particularly in China. Because there is so much room for growth in the export of meat or meat-like products, the US could use its new plant-based pork products advantageously. US total exports of agricultural products to China totaled $9.3 billion in 2018, America’s 4th largest agricultural export market. Leading US export categories include: soybeans ($3.1 billion), cotton ($924 million), hides & skins ($607 million), pork & pork products ($571 million), and coarse grains (ex. corn) ($530 million). Good tasting plant-based pork products could have a major export impact for the US in China and elsewhere in Asia.

If the market develops and plant-based US-made products are successful in Asia, the growth of US exports could help lower the trade tensions between the US and China, expand American agriculture and agriculture-linked manufacturing exports, create thousands of American jobs, and help improve US political relations with China. In that sense, plant-based meats, especially faux-pork, could be a plus for US national security