China opens doors to all US apples, ending 2012 ban

27-Jan-2015 - Last updated on 27-Jan-2015 at 12:33 GMT

Red and golden delicious apples grown in Washington will now be allowed into China

China’s food watchdog will allow the import of all US-grown apples in a move that could be worth US$100m a year to the American apple industry.

The US Department of Agriculture announced in a statement that it had reached the agreement with China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine following a long process to normalise apple trade relations after Beijing suspended imports of red and golden delicious apples from Washington state in 2012 over pest concerns.

“The USDA values the relationship we are forging with China to bring mutually-beneficial food and agricultural trade to Americans and Chinese alike," said agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack, adding the agreement will give a "significant boost in sales for American apple producers."

In October, China lifted the suspension on apples from Washington after the USDA and the country’s apple industry agreed to take additional measures to safeguard apples from pest-borne diseases.

The USDA said the past six years have been the strongest in history for agricultural trade, with worldwide agricultural exports totalling US$771.7bn since 2009, and apple exports alone reaching more than US$1bn in 2013.