China inks deal to import US beef by mid-July

Ending a 14-year hiatus, the announcement was made May 12 that China will begin — as soon as possible, but no later than July 16 — importing U.S. beef on conditions consistent with international food safety and animal health standards and consistent with the 1999 Agricultural Cooperation Agreement. The Chinese market is estimated to be worth $2.6 billion for the U.S. beef industry. Asian countries already make up some of the largest markets for U.S. beef, with Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan making up four of the top six export markets, accounting for $3.6 billion in value in 2016. Read more at Feedstuffs…