BEIJING: The trade agreement between the U.S. and China that focused on U.S. beef also paved the way for Chinese approval of two U.S. genetically modified crop traits. China has approved imports of two new varieties of genetically modified crops, clearing the way for U.S. agricultural companies to market new biotech seeds to farmers. Through the announcement this week, China approved the import of Dow Enlist corn and Monsanto’s soybean variety, Vistive Gold.
The approval stems from China agreeing to speed reviews of biotech products as part of the trade deal with President Donald Trump announced last month. Seed companies have long complained that China’s regulatory approval process was slow-moving and vague. The announcement does not, however, approve cultivation of GM crops in China.
