U.S., China ink stalled rice deal, but exporters still face additional steps

The United States and China announced Thursday that a final phytosanitary protocol -- over a decade in the making -- has been signed, allowing the U.S. to export rice to China provided certain requirements are met. Rice industry representatives welcomed the announcement but noted that the deal does not mean U.S. millers can immediately begin exporting rice to the lucrative market. “The signing of the protocol, it’s a major and important success and step -- but it really is the...