Source: MEATINGPLACE, 11/19/15

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will use an upcoming trade forum in China to press officials there to lift a ban on imports of U.S. poultry imposed during the avian influenza outbreak, the agriculture secretary told Reuters in an interview.

Vilsack plans to raise the issue at the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, an annual trade forum that runs from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, in Guangzhou, China, Reuters reported.

Vilsack said he did not expect the ban to be lifted at the forum and declined to specify a timeline for any possible action. USDA wants China to change its policy to limit imports from states or regions where poultry has been infected rather than imposing a nationwide ban.

South Africa and the United States this week finalized an agreement that paves the way for the country to resume imports of U.S. poultry, while South Korea earlier this month said it also plans to resume U.S. chicken imports.

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