China & Russia: China approves barley imports from Russia

China has approved barley imports from Russia, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on its website on August 1.

Barley exported to China must be produced in seven regions in Russia, including Novosibirsk and Kurgan, which are considered to be free of the fungal disease dwarf bunt that can infect winter wheat and barley crops, said the statement, dated July 29.

The grains should also be for crushing only, not used as seeds, the statement said.

The decision follows China's approval of soybean imports from all parts of Russia and wheat imports from a seventh region in the federation, as the current trade dispute between China and the United States has curbed U.S. agricultural shipments.

Beijing slapped a 25% tariff on a list of U.S. goods including soybeans and wheat in July 2018, in response to similar moves by Washington.

China also last November launched an anti-dumping probe into barley imports from Australia, its top supplier of the grain, amid strained relations between the two countries.

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