China removed a ban on imports of some U.S. beef products, opening up the trade for the first time since 2003.
The ban on imports of U.S. bone-in beef and boneless beef for livestock under 30 months has been removed, with conditions, effective immediately, according to a statement from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Imports must follow requirements under China’s traceability, inspection and quarantine systems, it said.
China halted imports of U.S. beef in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was found in Washington state. The country’s beef imports are surging as consumption increases, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show. China is already the world’s biggest pork consumer.
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