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On January 11, 2023, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Health Commission (NHC) released an updated Catalog of National Food Safety Standards. The updated list contains 1,478 standards covering food products, additives, quality specifications, testing methods, and production practices. This report provides an unofficial translation of the Catalogue.

On September 20, 2022, the China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the National Health Commission (NHC), and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly published Announcement No. 594 containing the National Food Safety Standard of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for 41 Veterinary Drugs in Foods (GB 31650.1-2022) and 21 standards of methods for determination of veterinary drug residues.

On January 13, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published a finalized updated “Guideline for Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants.”

On January 13, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the issuance of new and renewed biosafety certificates for genetically engineered (GE) events.

China will continue to collect countervailing (CVD) and antidumping (AD) duty duties on imported Distiller’s Dried Grains with or without Solubles (DDGS) from the United States for five more years.

In 2021, COVID-19 control measures severely impacted imported and cold chain food products, while travel restrictions put hotels under significant financial stress. In December 2022, China announced changes to its pandemic response policy, signaling a shift that removes previous restrictions that impacted food and agricultural trade and marketing.

China is on track to be the leading export destination for U.S. agricultural products for a third consecutive year. Despite the economy's anticipated challenges in 2023, demand for U.S. agricultural products remains strong. In December 2022, China announced changes to its pandemic response policy, signaling a shift that removes previous restrictions that impacted food and agricultural trade and marketing.

The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) recently updated the list of products subject to Decree 248. Between November 7, 2022, and January 4, 2023, it added 19 products and removed 15.

U.S. agricultural exports to China in fiscal year (FY) 2022 were $36.4 billion and surpassed the previous year’s record with China as the largest export market for the second consecutive year. Significantly higher agricultural prices and resilient demand helped drive exports above the previous year’s record despite lower volumes for most products.

On December 29, 2022, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced its annual tariff adjustment plan that sets tentative import and export tariff rates for select tariff lines in 2023. According to the 2023 tariff adjustment plan, the PRC will calculate MFN tariffs on certain frozen chicken products by applying a tariff on the import value rather than by volume (RMB/KG).

The annual “Double 11” shopping festival on November 11, otherwise known as “Singles Day,” has become the largest e-commerce sales event for consumers in China. Double 11 maintained phenomenal growth for the first 11 years, but the past two years have shown dramatically lower relative sales growth rates.