The U.S. Meat Export Federation says U.S. beef exports to China could be worth an estimated $2.6 billion, once allowed.
The White House announced a deal with China to open the market to U.S. beef no later than July 16th.
China has been closed to U.S. beef for nearly 14 years after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy that occurred in Washington state in December 2003.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Craig Uden says “It’s impossible to overstate how beneficial this will be for America’s cattle producers.”
Meat industry publication Meatingplace points out that China has twice before agreed to grant market access to U.S. beef, but regulatory hurdles have prevented any real trade from materializing, and U.S. beef industry stakeholders applauded a similar announcement last September.
