Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Thursday announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reached a final agreement with Chinese officials to allow the United States to begin exporting rice to China for the first time. Secretary Perdue says the agreement has been in the works for more than a decade and says the agreement represents “an exceptional opportunity” with potential for growth in the future. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of rice. Since 2013, it has also been the largest importer, with imports reaching nearly five million tons last year. When the new rice protocol is fully implemented, the U.S. rice industry will have access to China, significantly expanding export opportunities. U.S. rice exports can begin following the completion of an audit of U.S. rice facilities by China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.