USTR Fact Sheets On The U.S. China Phase 1 Agreement
USTR Fact Sheets On The U.S. China Phase 1 Agreement
USTR Fact Sheets On The U.S. China Phase 1 Agreement
FACT SHEET
On January 15, 2020, the United States and China signed an historic and enforceable agreement
on a Phase One trade deal that requires structural reforms and other changes to China’s economic
and trade regime in the areas of intellectual property, technology transfer, agriculture, financial
services, and currency and foreign exchange. The Phase One agreement also includes a
commitment by China that it will make substantial additional purchases of U.S. goods and
services in the coming years. Importantly, the agreement establishes a strong dispute resolution
system that ensures prompt and effective implementation and enforcement. The United States
has agreed to modify its Section 301 tariff actions in a significant way.
• Technology Transfer: The Technology Transfer chapter sets out binding and
enforceable obligations to address several of the unfair technology transfer practices of
China that were identified in USTR’s Section 301 investigation. For the first time in any
trade agreement, China has agreed to end its long-standing practice of forcing or
pressuring foreign companies to transfer their technology to Chinese companies as a
condition for obtaining market access, administrative approvals, or receiving advantages
from the government. China also commits to provide transparency, fairness, and due
process in administrative proceedings and to have technology transfer and licensing take
place on market terms. Separately, China further commits to refrain from directing or
supporting outbound investments aimed at acquiring foreign technology pursuant to
industrial plans that create distortion.
• Agriculture: The Agriculture chapter addresses structural barriers to trade and will
support a dramatic expansion of U.S. food, agriculture and seafood product exports,
increasing American farm and fishery income, generating more rural economic activity,
and promoting job growth. A multitude of non-tariff barriers to U.S. agriculture and
seafood products are addressed, including for meat, poultry, seafood, rice, dairy, infant
formula, horticultural products, animal feed and feed additives, pet food, and products of
agriculture biotechnology.
• Currency: The chapter on Macroeconomic Policies and Exchange Rate Matters includes
policy and transparency commitments related to currency issues. The chapter addresses
unfair currency practices by requiring high-standard commitments to refrain from
competitive devaluations and targeting of exchange rates, while promoting transparency
and providing mechanisms for accountability and enforcement. This approach will help
reinforce macroeconomic and exchange rate stability and help ensure that China cannot
use currency practices to unfairly compete against U.S. exporters.
• Expanding Trade: The Expanding Trade chapter includes commitments from China to
import various U.S. goods and services over the next two years in a total amount that
exceeds China’s annual level of imports for those goods and services in 2017 by no less
than $200 billion. China’s commitments cover a variety of U.S. manufactured goods,
food, agricultural and seafood products, energy products, and services. China’s increased
imports of U.S. goods and services are expected to continue on this same trajectory for
several years after 2021 and should contribute significantly to the rebalancing of the
U.S.-China trade relationship.
• Dispute Resolution: The Dispute Resolution chapter sets forth an arrangement to ensure
the effective implementation of the agreement and to allow the parties to resolve disputes
in a fair and expeditious manner. This arrangement creates regular bilateral consultations
at both the principal level and the working level. It also establishes strong procedures for
addressing disputes related to the agreement and allows each party to take proportionate
responsive actions that it deems appropriate. The United States will vigilantly monitor
China’s progress in eliminating its unfair trade practices and implementing these
obligations.
ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FACT SHEET
EXPANDING TRADE
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, commits China to undertake structural changes to
open up its economy and improve its trade regime. It is expected that these
changes and other trade liberalization being pursued by China will lead to
improved trade flows benefiting China’s trade partners, especially the United
States. China is facing increased consumer demand from its growing middle
class for high-quality imports of goods and services, which the United States is
able to produce and supply at competitive prices.
Consistent with the two sides’ projections, China is committing that over the
next two years it will import no less than $200 billion of U.S. goods and
services on top of the amounts that it imported in 2017 in four broad categories:
The United States and China expect China’s increased imports of U.S. goods
and services to continue on this same trajectory for several years after 2021.
The United States’ bilateral trade deficit with China in goods and services stood
at an unsustainable level of $380 billion last year. China’s increased imports of
U.S. goods and services in 2020 and 2021 and beyond should contribute
significantly to the rebalancing of the U.S.-China trade relationship.
ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FACT SHEET
RICE
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. rice producers with expanded
access to the Chinese market.
Key Achievements:
Rice Phytosanitary Protocol: Each time the United States provides China
with a list of rice facilities approved by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) as compliant with the Phytosanitary Protocol
on the Import of Rice from the United States to China, within 20 business
days of receipt of the list, China will register the facilities, publish the list
of facilities, and allow the importation of U.S. rice from each of the
APHIS-approved rice facilities. China continues to have the right to
conduct on-site phytosanitary audits of registered facilities. China has
already registered 32 U.S. rice facilities as approved to export to China.
Tariff Rate Quotas for Rice: Related to the WTO dispute brought and
won by the United States, China has agreed to comply with its WTO
obligations for the administration of TRQs for rice by December 31, 2019.
In addition, in this Agreement, China has agreed to ensure that it
administers its TRQ for rice with specific obligations to:
China has communicated to the United States that U.S. medium grain
rice can be imported under China’s “Rice, short and medium grain”
category of its TRQ system.
PET FOOD
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. manufacturers expanded access to
China’s rapidly growing market for dog and cat food.
Market Overview: Demand for imported pet food products from abroad is
growing at a rapid rate, and American brands are in high demand, including in
China. In recent years, U.S. pet food exports were limited due to animal health
restrictions on U.S. products containing poultry or bovine ingredients. In
addition, it is onerous to register new facilities with Chinese authorities. The
Phase One agreement addresses all of these issues and gives U.S. companies
streamlined access to China while providing Chinese consumers with a wider
variety of high quality American pet food products to choose from in the
future.
Key Achievements:
Lift its ban on U.S. pet food containing ruminant ingredients and
eliminate Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing of U.S. pet food
products containing ruminant ingredients. PCR testing of U.S. pet food
products not containing ruminant ingredients is to be on a risk-based
selection of shipments;
Allow the use of imported animal origin ingredients in pet food as long
as the ingredients are legally imported into the United States, meet U.S.
domestic requirements for inclusion in pet food, and are traceable to the
country of origin.
New Import Protocol: The United States and China will engage in technical
discussions to sign within two months an updated protocol for U.S. pet food
imports into China. Before the new protocol is finalized, pet food
manufacturers will still not be able to use ruminant ingredients or imported
ingredients. However, poultry ingredients will be allowed to be imported.
Pending finalization of the new pet food protocol, imports will continue under
the existing non-ruminant animal feed protocol.
Addition of New Facilities in the Future: For future new pet food and non-
ruminant derived animal feed facilities, or facility updates, the United States
will provide updates to GACC, and China will publish those updates on GACC’s
website within 20 business days of receipt.
APHIS will maintain the updated list of export facilities and provide
updates to GACC on a regular basis.
The GACC website can be found at the following website link (Please note
many web browsers have automatic translate functions that can help
navigate Chinese websites):
http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/jyjy/dzwjyjy/qymd/slaq/2157783/i
ndex.html.
In the next few months, APHIS will provide exporters with an updated
protocol for pet food exports to China. APHIS will also provide export
certificates for U.S. products going to China. Please see the APHIS
website for more information at:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/export/iregs
-for-animal-product-exports/sa_international_regulations
/sa_by_country/sa_c/ct_product_china.
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. exporters of beef, pork, and
poultry, as well as live breeding cattle with expanded access to China’s rapidly
growing market.
On November 14, 2019, China reopened its market to U.S. poultry meat,
partially eliminating the ban it had imposed in late 2014. On November 22,
2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated the online export
library listing requirements for U.S. exporters to ship U.S. poultry meat to
China. U.S. establishments can only export poultry to China that is slaughtered
and further processed after the establishment has been added to the General
Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) website.
On November 22, 2019, GACC completed updating an initial online list of 349
U.S. establishments eligible to export to China. Upon GACC publishing U.S.
establishments, Chinese importers are now able to obtain import licenses to
start placing orders.
Key Achievements:
BEEF
Remove age restrictions for U.S. beef and beef products upon completing
a risk assessment;
Expand the allowable product scope for U.S. beef and processed beef
products to more closely align with those products that the United States
allows for domestic consumption and export;
Recognize the U.S. beef and beef products’ traceability system that the
United States already has in place, which exceeds World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) guidelines for bovine spongiform encephalopathy;
and
PORK
Expand the allowable product scope for U.S. pork and pork products,
including bungs and intestines and processed products.
POULTRY
Fully lift the ban on other poultry commodities, including live birds; and
Live Breeding Cattle: The two sides will hold technical discussions for
the preparation of a protocol and associated export certificate for the
export of live breeding cattle.
You can also sign up for USDA Stakeholder Alerts to receive notification
when new protocols are posted. To sign up, please visit:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new.
Scroll to Veterinary Services and select “IREGS Live Animals Updates
(Exports).”
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) will also be sending out Global
Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports that will include
China-specific import registration and permit requirements. Please
click on the following link for access to these reports:
https://gain.fas.usda.gov/#/search.
HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. producers of horticultural products
with new or expanded access to the Chinese market.
Key Achievements:
Complete its plant health regulatory process for Chinese fresh jujube;
Complete its plant health regulatory process for Chinese fresh fragrant
pear;
Complete its regulatory process for Chinese fresh citrus fruit; and
In addition, both Parties have affirmed that phytosanitary certificates are not
required for the import of frozen fruits and vegetables.
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. farmers and dairy companies
expanded access to China’s rapidly growing market for imported dairy and
infant formula products.
Key Achievements:
Complete the approval process for imports of dairy permeate powder for
human consumption;
U.S. dairy producers must also ensure consignments destined for China
are accompanied by a dairy sanitary certificate from the Agricultural
Marketing Service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/imports-exports/dairy-
exports/dairy-sanitary-certificates.
ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FACT SHEET
SEAFOOD
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. fishermen and seafood companies
expanded access to China’s rapidly growing market for imported seafood
products.
Key Achievements:
Allow imports from U.S. seafood and fishmeal facilities that are in good
standing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
ANIMAL FEED
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will provide U.S. manufacturers of feed additives,
premixes, compound feed, and distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS)
streamlined processes for registration and licensing to facilitate U.S. exports to
China. The Phase One agreement will also result in new import protocols for
U.S. barley, alfalfa hay pellets and cubes, almond meal pellets and cubes, and
timothy hay, allowing imports of such products into China.
Market Overview: As China’s livestock sector has increased, its need for
quality feed and feed ingredients has likewise increased. To date, however, U.S.
manufacturers have had difficulty registering new feed products and facilities
with Chinese authorities. In addition, exporters of DDGS face burdensome
product licensing procedures, which cause export delays. The Phase One
agreement addresses these issues and provides U.S. companies streamlined
access to the Chinese market. In addition, China has agreed to negotiate
protocols to allow imports of additional feed products.
Key Achievements:
Addition of New Facilities in the Future: The United States will provide
updated lists of facilities producing feed additives, premixes, compound feed,
and DDGS to GACC, and China will publish the updated lists on GACC’s website
within 20 business days of receipt.
Producers and exporters of barley, alfalfa hay pellets and cubes, almond
meal pellets and cubes, and timothy hay should visit the U.S. Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service website for more information:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/importexport.
GACC is responsible for posting the lists of eligible products and facilities
from around the world that have permission to export these products to
China. Although the lists are in Chinese, many web browsers have an
automatic translate function that will make it easier to find the list of
interest. These lists can be found at the following website:
http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/jyjy/dzwjyjy/qymd/slaq/2157783/i
ndex.html.
ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FACT SHEET
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Key Achievements:
When additional information has been submitted to the NBC, ensure that
the NBC meets as soon as possible and as often as necessary to finalize
the NBC’s review of the application;
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, further opens China’s food and agriculture market
to American products. The Phase One agreement addresses structural barriers
to trade and will support a dramatic expansion of U.S. food, agriculture, and
seafood product exports, increase American farm and fishery income, generate
more rural economic activity, and promote job growth.
Domestic Support: China has agreed to respect its current World Trade
Organization (WTO) obligations on the transparency of its domestic
support measures. Separate from this Agreement, as part of a WTO
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dispute brought and won by the United States, China previously agreed
to comply with its WTO obligations on its domestic support for rice and
wheat by March 31, 2020. The United States maintains the right to take
actions related to that dispute.
Tariff Rate Quota Administration: China has agreed to comply with its
WTO obligations and to make specific improvements to its
administration of wheat, corn, and rice tariff-rate quotas (TRQs),
including the allocation methodology, treatment of non-state trading
quota applicants, and increased transparency. Separate from this
Agreement, as part of a WTO dispute brought and won by the United
States, China agreed to comply with its WTO obligations for the
administration of TRQs for wheat, corn, and rice by December 31, 2019.
Pork: China has agreed to broaden the list of pork products that are
eligible for importation to include processed products such as ham and
certain types of offal. China also agreed to conduct a risk assessment for
the veterinary drug ractopamine, which may be used in U.S. beef and
pork production.
Live Cattle for Breeding: Through this Phase One agreement, China will
immediately engage in technical discussions for the import of U.S. live
cattle for breeding.
Rice: China has committed to authorize the importation of U.S. rice from
any USDA-approved rice facility within 20 business days of China’s
receipt of notification from the United States that USDA has approved
the facility as compliant with the phytosanitary protocol agreed to by the
United States and China.
Pet Food: China has agreed to immediately resume imports of pet food
containing poultry ingredients and to lift the ban on ruminant
ingredients. China has also committed to streamline the timelines and
procedures for registering U.S. facilities.
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ECONOMIC AND TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FACT SHEET
Overview
Since 2009, China has been one of the top four largest export markets in the
world for U.S. food, agricultural, and seafood products. China’s rapidly-
developing economy has become one of the fastest growing markets in the
world. While China represents a major market for U.S. agricultural exports,
China’s overly restrictive and burdensome import requirements have
hampered the ability of U.S. farmers to compete on a level playing field.
The Phase One economic and trade agreement signed by the United States and
China on January 15, 2020, will further open China’s food and agriculture
market to American products. The Phase One agreement addresses structural
barriers to trade and will support a dramatic expansion of U.S. food,
agriculture, and seafood product exports, increase American farm and fishery
income, generate more rural economic activity, and promote job growth.
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products for feed or further processing will be an average of 24 months.
China has also agreed to certain administrative improvements in the
application process, and to certain steps to address situations of low-
level presence.
Domestic Support: China has agreed to abide by its current World Trade
Organization (WTO) obligations on the transparency of its domestic
support measures. Separate from this Agreement, as part of a WTO
dispute brought and won by the United States, China previously agreed
to comply with its WTO obligations on its domestic support for rice and
wheat by March 31, 2020. The United States maintains the right to take
actions related to that dispute.
Tariff Rate Quota Administration: China has agreed to comply with its
WTO obligations and to make specific improvements to its
administration of wheat, corn, and rice tariff-rate quotas (TRQs),
including the allocation methodology, treatment of non-state trading
quota applicants, and transparency. Separate from this Agreement, as
part of a WTO dispute brought and won by the United States, China
agreed to comply with its WTO obligations for the administration of
TRQs for wheat, corn, and rice by December 31, 2019.
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individual components of multi-component terms if the individual
component is generic.
Food Safety: China and the United States have agreed to not implement
food safety regulations, or require actions of the other Party’s regulatory
authorities that are not science- or risk-based and to apply regulations
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and require such actions only to the extent necessary to protect human
life or health. China also has agreed to not require certification for low
risk food products from the United States.
The Parties will next work to finalize a protocol for the regionalization of
poultry diseases. China has also committed to fully lifting the ban on
other U.S. poultry commodities, including live birds. Furthermore, China
committed to abide by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
standards for international trade of poultry products.
Pork: U.S. exports of pork products were $700 million in 2017 and are
expected to reach $1.7 billion annually in the next two to three years.
China agreed to broaden the list of pork products that are eligible for
importation to include processed products such as ham and certain types
of offal that are certified by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) for human consumption.
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exporting to China. Through this agreement, China immediately
recognizes oversight of U.S. meat, poultry meat, and processed meat and
poultry meat facilities by USDA’s FSIS, thereby eliminating any unique
registration requirements. It is estimated that these provisions could
result in $10-25 million annually of processed meat and poultry exports
to China.
Live Cattle for Breeding: China banned the import of live cattle from the
United States following the detection of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) in 2003. Through this Agreement, China will
immediately engage in technical discussions with the United States to
lead to a final market access agreement. The United States exported $4.5
million in live breeding cattle to China in 2003. With the conclusion of a
commercially viable protocol, U.S. exports of live breeding cattle to China
could reach $25 to $50 million annually.
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Rice: China will authorize the importation of U.S. rice from any rice
facility approved by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) within 20 business days of China’s receipt of a notification from
the United States that APHIS has approved the facility as compliant with
the phytosanitary protocol agreed to by the United States and China.
China also communicated that U.S. medium grain rice will be able to be
imported under China’s tariff rate quota for “Rice, short and medium
grain.” This action will allow U.S. rice to compete with comparable rice
grades in the Chinese market. With these commitments and China’s
commitments to abide by WTO commitments for administration of the
rice TRQ, USDA estimates that U.S. rice exports could reach or exceed
$300 million annually.
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part of the registration process for feed products. Upon receipt of a list
from the United States, China has agreed to list the registered facilities
on GACC’s website within 20 business days. For applications for
approval of a new feed additive, premix, or compound feed product,
timeframes are established for China’s review process. With regard to
DDGs and DDGS, China has agreed to issue renewed licenses for DDGs
and DDGS manufacturers within 20 business days of receiving
applications. USDA estimates that U.S. exports of these products could
exceed $700 million annually.
Pet Food: China has agreed to immediately resume imports of pet food
containing poultry ingredients and to lift the ban on ruminant
ingredients. In addition, China has agreed to allow imported animal-
origin ingredients in pet food. China has also agreed to limit the
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing to pet food with non-ruminant
ingredients, which is to be done on a risk-based selection of
shipments. China agreed to streamline the facility registration process,
by eliminating the requirement for facility questionnaires, and to
immediately register 24 facilities that had been waiting to be listed on
GACC’s website. USDA estimates U.S. exports could exceed $300 million
annually.
Tariff Rate Quotas and Domestic Support for Corn, Wheat, and Rice:
Related to the WTO dispute brought and won by the United States, China
has agreed to comply with its WTO obligations for the administration of
TRQs for wheat, corn, and rice by December 31, 2019. In addition, in this
Agreement, China has agreed to ensure that it administers its TRQ for
corn, wheat, and rice with specific obligations to:
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Make public on a website existing laws, regulations and
announcements on the administration of the TRQs.
Regarding its domestic support, China confirms that it will respect its
WTO obligations to publish in an official journal its domestic support
laws, regulations and related measures. Separately, through dispute
settlement proceedings at the WTO, China has already agreed to come
into compliance with a panel report on domestic support for wheat and
rice by March 31, 2020. The United States maintains its rights in those
dispute settlement proceedings should China not come into compliance.