USTR: China to reopen pork market to US

Beijing has agreed to re-allow American pork imports into China, Bloomberg reported, citing statements by the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office. US pork imports were banned in China last year following an outbreak of swine flu. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork, and China was the seventh-largest export market for American pork and pork-variety exports prior to the ban. Exports in 2008 were US$275 million. China agreed to end the ban in principle last October. The USTR welcomed the news and said resuming trade in US beef is next on the agenda.