While U.S. pork and beef ex­­ports are rebounding, the United States continues to face challenges. Market access issues continue to limit U.S. export growth potential, and delaying the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) means the United States is missing out on larger opportunities to export more U.S. pork and beef, industry experts said June 27 at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Economic Summit.

May beef export volume in­­creased 12 percent from a year ago to 99,451 metric tons, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Export value ($533.3 million) was 4 percent lower than a year ago but still the highest since July 2015. For January through May, export volume moved 3 percent ahead of last year’s pace at 442,627 metric tons, while value was down 11 percent to $2.37 billion.

Pork exports reached...