China bans import of all poultry and egg products from US

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The US is unable to export poultry, breeding stock, live chicks and eggs to China following a ban by the Chinese government. While the US claimed that the ban goes against international guidelines, China argued that it made the move after a nasty strain of bird flu, H5N8, was found in wild birds, guinea fowl and chickens in Oregon, and another strain in wild birds in California and Washington State. The US-China export market is said to be worth some $300m annually, and the US maintains that the ban will harm China’s ability to produce. “There’s absolutely no justification for China to take such a drastic action,” said Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.