Even before recent disruption of U.S. trade with China through increased tariffs, China had made importing genetically modified (GMO) soybeans more difficult after a regulatory crackdown last December. The agricultural GMO regulation scheme strengthened the soybean approval process, leading to delays at Chinese ports. Certificates for certain GMO import crops granted by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture have included cotton, soybeans, corn and rapeseed. The U.S. is looking for alternative GMO markets in case tariffs, restrictions and export slowdowns continue.

This article appears in the November 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings.