February 25, 2020

China lifts import ban on US beef and beef products more than 30 months old

The conditional directive from China's customs office comes after China's pledge to increase agriculture purchases from the United States in both countries' Phase 1 trade deal, reported Reuters.

A notice from China's General Administration of Customs said 30-month-old US beef and beef products inspection and quarantine requirements will be established and published later.

Last week, China said it will introduce exemptions on duties that were retaliatorily imposed on 696 goods from the United States, which includes soybeans, pork and beef.

China is currently battling meat shortages, with dwindling pork supplies after an African swine fever decimated the country's swine herds and transport restrictions due to the coronavirus causing supply issues for the country's burgeoning poultry industry.

In 2017, China lifted a 14-year ban imposed on deboned and boned beef from United States cattle under 30 months old.

-      Reuters