October 15, 2010

US calls on China to open beef market

US Senator Max Baucus urged top Chinese officials to comply with international rules and open the Chinese market to US beef during meetings in Beijing on October 13 and 14.

Baucus met with China's Vice Premier and other top officials to press China to work with the US to reach an agreement ending restrictions on American beef as soon as possible.

He stressed that US beef is safe and meets international scientific standards - and that their restrictions unfairly impede American exports and hurt Montana ranchers.

If China re-opened its market, the US beef industry estimates that exports would reach US$200 million or more in the first year, which would make China one of the top five markets for US beef.