US requires China to clarify the import regulations of genetically modified food before autumn

Lead: Washington, June 19 (Reuters) - a senior U.S government official warned on Monday that China's confusion over genetically modified food import regulations must be clarified before U.S soybean imports to China accelerate in the autumn Alan Johnson, chief U.S agricultural trade negotiator, said Wednesday that he conveyed the message to Chinese officials at a bilateral meeting in Geneva with China, but he did not say how the U.S would act if China failed to comply Johnson pointed out that China's import regulations of genetically modified food have been interrupting soybean trade between China and the United States since last year Johnson told reporters that the United States needs to ensure that China solves the import regulations of genetically modified food before autumn China's new import regulations on genetically modified food came into effect this year In the past, the application process of import license was confusing and complicated, which resulted in constant trade friction between China and the United States The United States also complained about China's inefficiency in implementing the new tariff rate quota (TRQ), which will make the Chinese market more open to foreign wheat, corn, rice and cotton China is the world's largest soybean importer, which means a billion dollar market for the United States U.S farmers will harvest soybeans in September, and they hope that China's regulations on GM will be clarified About 70% of American soybeans are genetically modified On Tuesday, China's Ministry of Health issued a second set of regulations on the import of genetically modified food, raising new questions about Beijing's biotechnology policy Earlier, China's Ministry of Agriculture issued a set of regulations on the import of genetically modified food Johnson told reporters in Geneva that when responding to us concerns about China's genetically modified regulations, Chinese officials always blindly said that "China will fully fulfill its commitments to the WTO" Chinese officials also gave similar assurances last week to U.S Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, who mentioned the matter to China at the world food summit in Rome Although there are many problems in the import regulations of genetically modified food, the reduction of the supply of soybean for pressing in China has led to speculation that China may allow soybean imports from South America and the United States in the short term Johnson said he had frank discussions with Chinese officials during the dialogue with China this week.