News

China still not sold on GMOs

China has voiced concerns about GMO foods in the just completed U.S./China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. A report in the Wall Street Journal says China’s Vice Premier said many in China oppose biotechnology “on scientific grounds.”  China allows a few GMO crops to be imported for animal feed.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is in China with biotech companies and trade groups and have asked for more science-based decisions in China’s regulatory process. They’ve also called for China to open up to more U.S. beef.

Although there’s been a plateau of U.S. farm exports to China after several years of rapid growth – the USDA says there continue to be good signals for potential long-term grown and trade expansion in China.

The Ag Department expects a big increase in China’s imports of coarse grains, soybeans, cotton, beef and pork by 2024.

U.S. ag exports to China last year totaled nearly 26-Billion dollars, making up about 16% of all U.S. ag exports.