US, China Pledge Concrete Actions to Allow More Bilateral Meat Trade
The U.S. will allow imports of Chinese cooked poultry and China will allow imports of U.S. beef “as soon as possible,” according to a Treasury fact sheet (here) on initial actions being taken under the two countries’ 100-day plan on economic cooperation (see 1704100008). U.S. and Chinese representatives are to resolve outstanding issues on allowing China cooked poultry into the U.S., and “after reaching consensus,” the U.S. will publish a proposed rule by July 16 at the latest to permit the imports, the fact sheet says. The U.S. and China also agreed that China will allow imports of U.S. beef no later than July 16, following international food safety and animal health standards consistent with the bilateral 1999 Agricultural Cooperation Agreement, after delegations hold one more round of technical consultations, the fact sheet says.
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The two parties also agreed that China’s National Biosafety Committee is to hold a meeting by the end of this month to conduct science-based safety investigations of all eight pending U.S. biotechnology product applications, in which China will not ask for information outside of safety of the products’ intended uses, the fact sheet says. The committee must provide a complete list of requested information necessary to finalize the safety assessment for the products’ intended use for any product that doesn’t pass the evaluation. For products passing the safety evaluations, China must grant certificates within 20 working days, the sheet says. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said in a statement the new "trade agreement" allows China to "write the rules," noting the country struggles to enforce food safety laws and regulations, including as they relate specifically to poultry products. "Given China’s demonstrably poor food safety record, it is unacceptable to take unnecessary risks with the health of American families," she said.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of DeLauro's statement.