China Partially Lifts Ban On U.S. Poultry Exports

Yorba Linda, CA (AHN) - China on Tuesday has agreed to partially lift its ban on poultry exports from six states and at the same time start a dialog on the process for exports of medical equipment.

The announcement was made by the Chinese Vice Premier at the close of the two-day annual meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade held at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace to honor the former president's role in opening trade to China in the 1970s.

Beijing will resume importing poultry products from six of the eight U.S. states that have been banned; Connecticut, New York, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Nebraska - poultry from Arkansas and Virginia are still prohibited. China imposed the ban after fears they would bring in the avian flu.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez welcomed the development. "You can see the real outcome of all the work and all the engagement of the U.S. team and the Chinese team. And as important as this meeting is, it's just the first step in what is probably the world's most important relationship," Gutierrez said.