U.S. rice to be exported to China for first time.

For the first time, U.S. rice farmers will now be able to export rice to China, according to a new agreement announced by Secretary of Agriculture. The agreement comes after more than a decade of negotiations between USDA officials and the Chinese government. Agriculture Secretary called this agreement an exceptional opportunity with enormous potential for growth in a press release. China is the largest consumer, producer, and importer of rice, as the nation eats the equivalent of the entire U.S. rice crop in under two weeks. Each year China fills its plate with almost 5 million tons of imported rice. When China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, U.S. rice imports were barred due to strict pest and pathogen protocols between the two countries.