U.S. Continues Call for China to Suspend Decree 73 Despite Assurances

According to senior U.S. trade officials, the U.S. government remains concerned that China's new quarantine requirements will limit market access for U.S. soybeans. Those comments came in response to assurances from China's highest ranking diplomat in the United States that Decree 73, issued in late June, will not impact exports of U.S. soybeans to China. Chinese authorities have maintained that the measure simply aims to implement an extension of quarantine certificates from 3 to 6 months. The measure, however, requires importers to apply for quarantine certificates before signing contracts and to incorporate Chinese quarantine restrictions into the terms of the contract. Violations of quarantine regulations would then also affect the status of the contract.