China has allowed imports of corn and barley from Uruguay starting this month, two separate notices from the General Administration of Customs said on Tuesday. Barley from Uruguay that meets quarantine requirements can be imported from Feb. 15, the first notice said. Uruguayan corn can enter China from Feb. 18, according to the second customs notice.
The new trade move came as Beijing pushes to diversify imports amid rocky trade relations with its major grains suppliers, including the United States and Australia. China in November last year launched an anti-dumping probe into barley imports from Australia, its top supplier of the grain. It also imposed a 25 percent tariff last July on a list of US products, including corn and sorghum, two other major animal feed ingredients, in response to similar moves by Washington.