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Reports: China to resume U.S. beef imports

U.S. trade officials reportedly made strides on several key economic issues during meetings in China last week, including U.S. beef exports to China.

According to various media reports, the Chinese promised to ease restrictions on U.S. beef that have been in place since the BSE scare in 2003.  TheHill.com reports that China agreed to resume its imports of U.S. beef by July of 2014.

Reuters reports that demand for beef in China has soared in the last two years, fueled by rising incomes and short domestic supply.

The other major ag-related issue in those talks was China’s biotech approval process.  Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says he conveyed a need for China to streamline that process, and gave his commitment to begin implementation of a pilot program on the review of biotechnology products.  China also agreed to discuss U.S. concerns regarding China’s requirement for the use of viable seed in applications for biotechnology approvals.