American agricultural imports entering Shanghai have increased this year. The volume of imported fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts reached 721 tons for the first half, up 289-fold. Imported feathers and wool hit 193 tons, up 56.6-fold.
Since the bilateral Sino-US WTO deal was signed, China's quarantine departments have given American agricultural products such as wheat, meat products and oranges the green light to enter China's market.
Imported American vegetables, meat products, fruits and dairy products entering China via Shanghai have all increased. By the end of July, the top three agricultural imports from the US were cooking oil (95,934 tons, up 68.2%), frozen poultry (8,342 tons, up 219.7%) and milk and butter (5,799 tons, up 80.5%).
China is still a largely agrarian country; many of its agricultural products have traditionally been exported. For example, China's frozen chicken, wool and pig intestine membranes have raked in tens of millions of US dollars.
But after China joins the WTO, China will need to raise the quality of its products and establish name brands to expand exports and win more market share.
(People's Daily 08/30/2000)
