Hong Kong Resumes U.S. Beef Trade

Hong Kong Resumes U.S. Beef Trade
Dec. 29, 2005

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that Hong Kong — once the fifth-largest market for U.S. beef products — will begin accepting U.S. beef exports. The agreement will allow the U.S. to export boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age to Hong Kong under the Beef Export Verification Program.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government reported that it would resume processing applications for beef imports immediately.

“We are extremely pleased with the reopening of another important market for U.S. beef exports, and we anticipate that trade will quickly begin,” Johanns stated in a release. “I applaud the Hong Kong government for making trade decisions based on internationally accepted scientific standards. This is one more step toward normalized international beef trade that will also help further the close bilateral trade relationship of the United States and Hong Kong.”

The United States exported $90 million worth of beef and beef products to Hong Kong in 2003, prior to the ban surrounding the December 2003 case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States has recovered access to markets valued at more than $2.8 billion, or 74% of the 2003 export value.

“USDA has worked closely with Hong Kong and others around the world to remove restrictions on imports of U.S. beef,” Johanns stated. “USDA will continue to focus our efforts on opening additional markets in Asia and around the world by promoting the use of science-based regulations in global beef trade.”

— by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.