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U.S. beef producers now have more access to Chinese markets. An agreement signed by the U.S. and Chinese governments will allow U.S. beef producers greater access to the Chinese beef market, and will pave the way for China to become a leading importer of U.S. beef, according to the NCBA. The agreement also will aid the process for China to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) before the next round of multilateral trade negotiations begins in late 1999. "China is a very important market for U.S. beef with significant growth potential," said NCBA President George Swan, a cattle producer from Rogerson, Idaho. "This is a huge step for increased fair trade around the world, and is a sound accomplishment by U.S. trade negotiators. We appreciate the administration's efforts to keep agriculture at the top of the list throughout the negotiation process." The agreement signed by the U.S. and Chinese governments gives U.S. cattlemen access to China's retail and foodservice markets, recognizes the U.S. meat inspection system as equivalent to the Chinese system and significantly lowers Chinese tariffs on U.S. beef. Tariffs on U.S. beef would be lowered from 40 percent to 12 percent, and tariffs on beef variety meats would be lowered from 23 percent to 12 percent. "U.S. cattlemen have been urging that China meet these conditions before the country be granted membership in the WTO," said NCBA International Markets Committee Chairman Dana Hauck, a cattle producer from Delphos, Kansas. "Marketing U.S. beef to the Chinese population of 1.2 billion could move China to become one of the top three markets for U.S. beef within five years," Hauck added. "The agreement sets the stage for continued opening of world markets to U.S. beef and lower trade barriers across the board." In 1998, U.S. producers exported $55 million in beef and variety meats to China and Hong Kong, the majority of which went through hotel and restaurant trade channels. By comparison, U.S. producers in 1998 exported a total of nearly $3 billion in beef and variety meats, of which, nearly $1.6 billion went to Japan and more than $450 million went to Mexico. Japan and Mexico are the top two export markets for U.S. beef. |
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