US beef closer to Chinese plates

Craig Letch (L), director of food quality and assurance for Beef Products Inc., interacts with governors from Kansas, Texas, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska during their visit to his beef plant in South Sioux City, Nebraska, March 29, 2012. [Photo/VCG]

The United States took a step forward on Monday towards resuming commercial shipment of US beef and beef products to China for the first time in the last 14 years.

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the posting of technical documents related to the beginning of the shipments on Monday, after the two governments reached agreement on final details of protocol to allow the US to begin the beef exports to China.

"Today is a great day for the United States and in particular for our cattle producers, who will be regaining access to an enormous market with an ever-expanding middle class," Purdue said in a statement.

"I have no doubt that as soon as the Chinese people get a taste of American beef they'll want more of it," he added.

Resuming US beef exports to China is part of the US-China 100-Day Action Plan announced on May 11 and a result of the newly established US-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue co-chaired by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and China's Vice-Premier Wang Yang.

"President Trump is doing more to improve the US-China relationship than any president in decades, and this final beef protocol agreement represents even more concrete progress," Ross said in the statement.

"I look forward to engaging with our Chinese counterparts as we address more complex issues to the benefit of both our nations," Ross said.

According to a press release from the US Treasury Department, China has emerged as a major beef buyer in recent years, with imports increasing from $275 million in 2012 to $2.5 billion in 2016.

China banned imports of US beef in 2003 after mad cow disease cases were discovered.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com