Last month President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined a 100-day action plan that basically slapped a due date to their consensus. Both parties agreed to make progress on key issues and to have details finalized on or before July 16, 2017.
According to the USDA news release the specified requirements for exports to China include:
- Beef and beef products must be derived from cattle that were born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S., cattle that were imported from Canada or Mexico and subsequently raised and slaughtered in the U.S., or cattle that were imported from Canada or Mexico for direct slaughter.
- Cattle must be traceable to the U.S. birth farm using a unique identifier, or if imported, to the first place of residence or port of entry.
- Beef and beef products must be derived from cattle less than 30 months of age.
- Chilled or frozen bone-in and deboned beef products are eligible for shipment. For a complete listing, refer to the FSIS Export Library.
- Carcasses, beef and beef products must be uniquely identified and controlled up until the time of shipment.
Following the announcement, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a statement saying, “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. Since he was elected, President Trump has brought momentum, optimism and results to American agriculture families that we haven’t seen in years, and this agreement is a great example. ... I have no doubt that as soon as the Chinese people get a taste of American beef, they’ll want more of it.”
Likewise, Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), welcomed the final agreement. He said in a statement, “We hope that by getting our foot in the door we can develop a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with China.” 
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Cassidy Woolsey
- Editor
- Progressive Cattleman
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