USTR: Beef Looks To Benefit From Phase One

Documents released by the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office offer details into the agriculture portion of the Phase One agreement.  USTR Robert Lighthizer said China will purchase and import, on average, at least $40 billion of U.S. food, agricultural and seafood products annually for a total of at least $80 billion over the next two years.  Products will cover the full range of U.S. agriculture.

China will expand the scope of beef products allowed to be imported, eliminate age restrictions on cattle slaughtered for export to China, and recognize the U.S. beef and beef products' traceability system.  The USDA estimates U.S. beef and beef product exports to China could reach $1 billion annually.

Further, China has agreed to implement a transparent, predictable, efficient, science- and risk-based regulatory process for the evaluation and authorization of products of agricultural biotechnology.

Click Here to read the text of Phase One.

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