i- As previously covered on this blog, U.S. beef has been denied access to China for nearly 14 years due to concerns stemming from a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy that occurred in Washington state in December 2003. In September 2016, China announced that it had lifted its ban on imports of U.S. beef, but attempts to negotiate the technical terms of access faltered in the ensuing months, and so – to date – American beef producers have not yet been able to resume exports to China.
- Late yesterday, the White House announced that China would resume beef imports no later than July 16, 2017 as part of a broader trade agreement with China that also aims to improve access of American electronic payment providers and natural-gas exporters to the Chinese market. In return, in the realm of agriculture, the U.S. has pledged that it will remove obstacles to importing cooked Chinese poultry meat.
- The restoration of U.S. beef access to China represents a financial win for American beef producers as the Chinese market for American beef exports stands at an estimated $2.6 billion. Following the White House announcement, The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association issued a press release noting that “It’s impossible to overstate how beneficial this will be for America’s cattle producers.”
China Slated to Resume US Beef Imports by July
Friday, May 12, 2017
