China open to more US agricultural imports

China remains open to increasing imports of US agricultural products, provided that a reciprocal tariff-reduction arrangement covering about $30 billion in imports on each side is implemented, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

Speaking at a weekly news conference in Beijing, ministry spokeswoman Huang Ling said agricultural trade is an important part of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Expanding bilateral agricultural trade would give consumers in both countries a wider choice of food while providing stable incomes for businesses and farmers on both sides, Huang said.

She called on the United States to work with China to create more favorable conditions for agricultural trade by jointly reducing tariffs, removing non-tariff barriers and expanding market access.

The official’s remarks came in response to a question about a meeting between China International Trade Representative Li Chenggang and a US agricultural trade delegation on Monday, including whether discussions focused on soybeans or other agricultural products.