China pledges to lift US pork import restrictions
![China has pledged to lift restrictions on US pork imports, which could defuse trade tensions between the two countries. [Reuters]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200904/r364569_1687273.jpg "China has pledged to lift restrictions on US pork imports, which could defuse trade tensions between the two countries. [Reuters]")
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China has pledged to lift restrictions on US pork imports, which could defuse trade tensions between the two countries. [Reuters]
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China's pledge to lift restrictions on US pork imports could remove a key source of trade tension ahead of a visit next month by US President Barack Obama, but a number of other disputes linger.
At high-level talks in the eastern city of Hangzhou, Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai said China would lift a ban imposed earlier this year when the global swine flu scare first surfaced.
China is the world's biggest pork consumer.
The move was among several agreements reached during the annual meeting of the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade which was seen as crucial preparations for Mr Obama's November visit to Shanghai and Beijing.
Mr Sun gave no firm time frame, saying only that China aimed to "quickly resume the imports," but the move was hailed by US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
He says China's intent to remove its H1N1 related ban on US pork marks an important step forward in cooperation between the countries on agriculture issues.
The US had complained for months over the restrictions, imposed over fears that pork from swine flu-affected areas could carry the virus, which health experts have since dismissed.
The United States has in turn pledged to ease restrictions on imports of Chinese poultry.
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