US, China agree on new Dairy Export Certificate

US and Chinese officials agreed to a new US Dairy Export Certificate, resolving a longstanding issue and allowing US dairies to enter a growing export market. China has said since 2010 that the previous 2007 standard did not meet its requirements and required renegotiation, but allowed US imports to continue in the meantime as long as negotiations were in good faith. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will begin to issue the new certificates immediately. Certificates issued prior to Jan. 18, 2013 will remain valid for 60 days, but will not be accepted in China after March 20, 2013.