China’s Ministry of Agriculture announced yesterday that China has lifted the ban on U.S. beef following a recently concluded review of the U.S. supply system. U.S. beef and beef product exports have been held out of the Chinese market since 2003, following the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in December of that year.
China and the United States must complete other steps before U.S. beef can be exported to China. The next step is for United States Department of Agriculture officials to work with China’s Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to approve the certificates and protocols for exports.
“USTR and USDA look forward to China’s final audit report on beef, and subsequent discussions between the United States and China on the specific conditions that will allow trade to resume,” said USTR in a press release. “True access to China’s beef market -consistent with science-based, international standards for trade- remains a top priority for the United States.”
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the U.S. Meat Export Federation both responded yesterday to the news.
