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US-China trade war
EconomyChina Economy

China lifts import ban on live poultry from US as bird flu threatens local farms

  • Move took effect on Friday, when the phase one trade deal with the United States kicked in
  • It comes after the deadly H5N1 bird flu was found in chickens in two Chinese provinces in February

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H5N1 bird flu has been reported in chickens in two Chinese provinces this month. Photo: AFP
Zhou Xin

China lifted an import ban on live poultry products from the United States from February 14 – the date when a partial trade deal between the two countries took effect.

The move came after China reported cases of the deadly H5N1 bird flu in chickens in two provinces in the first 10 days of February, a development that could threaten the domestic poultry industry.

Bans on American live poultry and poultry products imposed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were all lifted, according to an announcement on Sunday by the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Those bans were put in place to prevent the spread of bird flu.

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China also removed import bans on frozen poultry products from the US three months ago.

The latest move is another goodwill gesture to Washington on trade. China said earlier it would halve the extra tariffs it imposed on US goods in September – including on crude oil, soybeans, pork and beef – effective from February 14.

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But the real effect of the policy relaxations could be limited because of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in mainland China, which has disrupted trade flows and restricted consumer spending.
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