At least three shipments of corn have been rejected by Chinese officials, on the grounds that they contain an unapproved strain of genetically modified corn. The strain, called MIR162, was developed by Syngenta to be resistant to certain pests.
US officials are closely monitoring the situation, says a spokeswoman from the US Trade Representative’s office.
“We have raised concerns with Chinese officials regarding increasing delays in the approval process for [GM crops]. Our expectation is that biotech approvals will be handled in a timely and predictable manner, throughout a transparent, science-based process,” the spokeswoman says.
While the rejected shipments roiled the market, U.S. corn sales continue at a high volume.
Read the full, original story: U.S. urges timely action by China on GMO corn approvals
