Southeast Missouri Rice Producers Can Export to China After Sustained McCaskill Effort

Senator had urged USDA to finalize negotiations allowing Missouri producers to enter profitable Chinese market

WASHINGTON – Rice producers and processers in Southeast Missouri and across the state will finally be able to export their product to China, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today, following a sustained effort from U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill.  

McCaskill had urged the Department of Agriculture to finalize negotiations with China—which have gone on for more than ten years—to open up the Chinese market to U.S. producers. China is the largest rice-producing country in the world, but as the largest rice consumer, it has become increasingly reliant on imports to meet demand. U.S. rice growers had been concerned the slow pace of U.S. negotiations would allow other countries to fill China’s growing need.

“This is long-overdue but very welcome news for Missouri’s rice producers, who’ve for years been working on expanding markets for their product,” McCaskill said. “Access to China’s enormous and growing food market will be a huge boon for our farmers in the Bootheel, who can finally take advantage of the record Chinese demand for imported rice.”

In 2015, BJ Campbell, a rice farmer from Qulin, Mo, said of McCaskill’s effort: "Missouri rice farmers as well as rice farmers from across the United States appreciate Senator McCaskill's quick action in trying to help us sign a phytosanitary agreement with China. The opening of the Chinese rice market to U.S. rice will be the largest export market for milled rice we have ever had."

McCaskill is a longtime advocate for ensuring Missouri's farmers and ranchers have the resources and markets they need to succeed. Last month, following demands from McCaskill and a bipartisan group of colleagues, President Trump finalized an agreement with China to lift its beef import ban and allow Missouri ranchers to export their beef to China.

Visit mccaskill.senate.gov/jobs to learn more about McCaskill’s fight to boost job opportunities for Missouri.

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