The US has signed a deal with Beijing that is to allow American rice companies to export to China for the first time.

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the US Department of Agriculture had reached an agreement with Chinese officials on final details of a protocol to allow American-grown rice to be shipped to their country.

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“This is another great day for US agriculture and, in particular, for our rice growers and millers, who can now look forward to gaining access to the Chinese market. This market represents an exceptional opportunity today, with enormous potential for growth in the future,” said Perdue.

“The agreement with China has been in the works for more than a decade and I’m pleased to see it finally come to fruition, especially knowing how greatly it will benefit our growers and industry.”

China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of rice. Since 2013, it has also been the largest importer, with imports reaching nearly 5m tons last year. 

US rice exports can begin following the completion of an audit of US rice facilities by China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

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