US president urged to look into China's pork and beef ban

US senator Charles Grassley said Tuesday (Jul 21) that President Barack Obama should press visiting Chinese officials next week to open China's markets to banned US beef and pork exports.

In a letter to Obama, Grassley said the US administration should raise the issue of China's continued barriers to exports of US pork and beef.

The barriers are scientifically unfounded and have negatively impacted producers in Iowa, a major US farm state, said Grassley.

Obama is scheduled to speak July 27 at the opening of high-level strategic and economic talks between Chinese and US leaders next week, according to the White House.

China has banned US pork imports due to concerns of the AH1N1 flu virus.