China to Resume Pork Imports From US

China has agreed to resume importing US pork and pork products produced on or after 1 May, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The federal agency is working with Chinese officials to adjust the product eligibility date to 24 March 2010, the date specified in the original agreement to reopen Chinese market for the US pork.

In April 2009, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pork imposed a ban on pork imports from 49 US states after the outbreak of swine flu.

In 2008, the US exported pork and pork products worth $275m to China, according to the US office of Trade Representative.

China’s live hog and pork prices increased after it started buying for stockpiles to stabilise domestic prices, the Ministry of Commerce said.