China will import American rice for the first time after a new trade deal was agreed to between the two sides.

“The agreement with China has been in the works for more than a decade and I’m pleased to see it finally come to fruition, especially knowing how greatly it will benefit our growers and industry,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement.

China produces 20 times more rice than the U.S., but it’s also the world’s biggest consumer. Recently it has been buying more rice abroad, spending way over $1 billion in some years, to feed its population.
Last year, China imported about 5 million tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The U.S. alone couldn’t satisfy that demand. America exports between 3 million and 4 million tons a year, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Source: Fana News