July 2, 2007

US to sell its beef to China amid food trade rift 
 

Despite food safety issues, the US is trying to penetrate its beef to China to gain hold of one of the world's most lucrative market.

US beef has been banned by China since 2003 due to mad cow disease outbreak.

The US ambassador to China, Clark Randt, met quarantine chief Li Changjiang and forwarded him a letter concerning US beef exports to China on  June 29, China's quarantine administration said.

Officials from both sides declined further comment.

Earlier this month, a senior US agriculture official said China is unlikely to drop the ban on US beef despite pressing efforts of US officials to Chinese vice premier Wu Yi when she  visited Washington in May.

The US beef industry had been hoping to resume trade by June 2006, after what it called a commitment from China. But the two governments still disagree about import rules.

Spurred by a series of scandals from lead paint to dangerous chemical in pet food, the safety of food and goods from China has come under intense global scrutiny.

The US Food and Drug Administration said on June 19 it would bar imports of Chinese farm-raised seafood unless suppliers could prove the shipments were free from harmful residue, while Japanese companies supplying toothpaste in kits to hotels launched a recall.

China said it seized two shipments from the United States of preserved apricots and orange pulp earlier this week, citing health concerns.