China increases inspections of U.S. ag imports

China’s customs authorities have bolstered inspections of U.S. agricultural imports just as trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies intensify, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Inspections are taking longer than usual and procedures are more complicated, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak to the media. Quarantine authorities have strengthened inspections of products including fruit, pork and lumber, according to the people. Calls to the office of the spokesman of China’s customs authority weren’t immediately answered.

When asked at a daily briefing Thursday whether China had increased inspections of U.S. shipments, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that China uses scientific and fair principles to conduct its inspections of imported goods.

The greater scrutiny comes after China said earlier this week that it had strengthened inspections of U.S. apples and wooden logs at major Chinese ports after pests and diseases were found in some shipments. Substandard imports may be returned or destroyed, according to a notice published May 7 on the customs body’s website.

‘Invisible’ War 

“It is a kind of invisible trade war, which will give China more bargaining power in negotiations” with the U.S., Wang Zhong, chief consultant with China-based Systematic, Strategic & Soft Consulting Co., said in an interview. Farm products are often targeted by the government in dealing with bilateral relations, Wang said.