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American farmers to export rice to China

Rice field
Rice field

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It may sound strange, but if all goes well, American farmers will soon be exporting rice to China. Chinese supermarkets could stock US rice as early as next year, alongside other imported western goods that are popular with the country's burgeoning middle classes.

In mid-October, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received a draft protocol from the Chinese government on requirements for importing US milled rice. Now American mills are poring over the document. China is the biggest consumer of rice in the world, accounting for 30% of global consumption - as well as the largest producer.%VIRTUAL-SkimlinksPromo%