On April 10, 1999 the U.S. and China signed an Agreement on U.S. - China Agricultural Cooperation, which resolves sanitary and phytosanitary trade disputes on citrus, meat, Pacific-northwest wheat, and other grains.

Resolution of Trade Disputes

China agreed to the immediate removal of longstanding barriers to U.S. citrus, meat, and wheat and other grains. In addition, China agreed to accelerate the removal of all other non-tariff measures restricting trade in agricultural products that cannot be justified under WTO rules.

Citrus

• Under the Agreement, China will lift bans on imports of U.S. citrus. For the first two harvest seasons Arizona, Texas and approved counties in Florida and California will be permitted to export citrus produced in areas free of fruit flies and from areas outside of a 20-kilometer zone around fruit fly outbreaks.

• During the interim period, the U.S. and China also agreed to study the size of the quarantine zone. If agreement cannot be reached, then the 20-kilometer zone will be eliminated (i.e., the much less restrictive U.S. standard will apply).

• On January 28, Chinese officials completed the pre-program initiation inspection tour of U.S. citrus producing regions, as stipulated in the agreement. Based on this visit, the officials indicated that they anticipated being able to approve U.S. citrus exports to China soon.

Wheat and other Grains

• Under the Agreement, China will lift the ban on imports of wheat from 7 states in the Pacific Northwest (the ban was due to the presence of TCK spores in shipments).

• China will import all types of U.S. wheat from all regions of the United States to all ports in China provided it is at or below a tolerance level of 30,000 TCK spores per 50 gram sample.

• Equivalent tolerance levels will be applied to other grains possibly contaminated with TCK.

• For one year, the U.S. and China will undertake a joint project on the TCK tolerance level for exports to China. If agreement cannot be reached, 30,000 TCK spores per 50-gram sample will continue to be applied.

• China agreed not to apply any other restrictions, including measures that would require a change of destination for any shipment.

• China also agrees that there is no other outstanding phytosanitary issue to prohibit exports of U.S. wheat.

Meat

• Under the Agreement, China will lift the ban on U.S. exports of all meat and poultry accompanied by a USDA/FSIS certificate of wholesomeness.

• China will still have the right to randomly audit the U.S. certification system through plant inspections and through inspection of imported U.S. product at the Chinese port of entry.

Technical Cooperation and Scientific Exchanges

The U.S. and China agreed to increase mutual cooperation in the field of high technology and encourage research institutes and agricultural enterprises to collaborate in high-tech research and development. The specific project areas include:

-- field and horticultural products
-- biotechnology
-- meat, poultry and livestock
-- aquaculture
-- natural resources and the environment

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