Oklahoma achieved a remarkable 48% increase in exports to China in 2022, the highest YOY growth in the Heartland region. Oklahoma’s status as the second largest beef producing state in the U.S. and its top agricultural exports (beef, wheat, and pork) being in high-demand by China prompted tremendous growth in the state’s agricultural exports to China. The exporting of miscellaneous crops increased by 219%, and meat exports by 44%. China nearly doubled its imports of Oklahoman pork from 2017 to 2022. Although the Chinese American population is relatively small in the state, Chinese immigrants were the first Asians to settle in Oklahoma around 1880. Sister city partnerships like that of Tulsa-Beihai, established in 1987, remain vibrant. Oklahoma’s Musical Ambassador Kyle Dillingham went on two musical goodwill tours of China in 2023, including a visit to Oklahoma’s sister province of Gansu. Educational collaborations have also helped Oklahoma strengthen its relationship with China, such as the joint degree programs that Oklahoma State University has with 4 leading Chinese universities and the only Sino-U.S. joint program on fire safety engineering. While Oklahoma fosters collaborative higher education ties with China, K-12 education faces challenges. Tulsa Public Schools discontinued its Chinese language program due to national attention on the district’s ties to Confucius Classrooms, indirectly associated with the Chinese government, during congressional testimony. Governor Kevin Stitt’s efforts to limit land acquisition by Chinese nationals, raises uncertainties about future growth. 

Oklahoma achieved a remarkable 48% increase in exports to China in 2022, the highest YOY growth in the Heartland region. Oklahoma’s status as the second largest beef producing state in the U.S. and its top agricultural exports (beef, wheat, and pork) being in high-demand by China prompted tremendous growth in the state’s agricultural exports to China. The exporting of miscellaneous crops increased by 219%, and meat exports by 44%. China nearly doubled its imports of Oklahoman pork from 2017 to 2022.

2021’s total exporting revenue is up 64% from the low in 2018 at the height of the trade war. Oklahoma industries impacted by tariffs felt the burn, particularly in soybeans and meat; compare the exporting revenue of oilseeds and grains to China in 2018 of $36 million to 2021 of $174 million. Moreover, when Swine Fever lost China half their domestic hog herd in 2019, Oklahoma could have benefited in making up for the loss–except for the 72% tariff on U.S. pork.

Those opportunities have not expired however: Oklahoma’s top global agricultural exports of beef, wheat, and pork have all been in high-demand by China in recent years. China has been steadily increasing its consumption of American beef since lifting its ban in 2017, while in 2021 China was second only to Mexico in its purchasing of American beef–and it hardly need be said that the country is infamous for its love of pork, accounting for more than half of global consumption. Yet despite Oklahoma being the second largest beef producing state, and a trending increase in exporting amongst several other Heartland states, Oklahoma witnessed a 41% decrease in shipment of meat products to China in 2021. Moreover, Oklahoma has a strong economic base in aviation, biotechnology, and energy, and is incredibly cost competitive for manufacturing. In addition, Oklahoma is a clean tech powerhouse, with expertise in geothermal, solar, and wind, and is also home to state-of-the-art hydrogen production facilities.

China has been making headlines in Oklahoma on account of concerns of Chinese nationals buying land in Oklahoma–part of a country-wide trend in closer monitoring of foreign land ownership. Oklahoma is one of six states banning foreign land ownership of farmland, whilst other states have tightened their own restrictions.

Oklahoma’s Musical Ambassador Kyle Dillingham went on two musical goodwill tours of China in 2023, including a visit to Oklahoma’s sister province of Gansu.

Governor Kevin Stitt’s efforts to limit land acquisition by Chinese nationals, raises uncertainties about future growth. 

Educational collaborations have also helped Oklahoma strengthen its relationship with China, such as the joint degree programs that Oklahoma State University has with 4 leading Chinese universities and the only Sino-U.S. joint program on fire safety engineering. While Oklahoma fosters collaborative higher education ties with China, K-12 education faces challenges. Tulsa Public Schools discontinued its Chinese language program due to national attention on the district’s ties to Confucius Classrooms, indirectly associated with the Chinese government, during congressional testimony

This data and content is updated periodically. The most recent update was January 2024.