U.S. Meat Export Federation officials say protocol details are being worked out with China on what U.S. producers may have to do to export beef to China. MEF Senior Vice President Joel Haggard says while there’s significant buyer interest in China, it’s difficult to determine the market without a final deal in place.

He says there’s a lot of demand from Chinese importers for U.S. beef and that packers and producers may have to process and raise beef specifically for the Chinese market.

Haggard says the long term trade outlook in China looks good but it’ll be slow getting it going.

Haggard says China is expected to assess a standard duty of 12 percent on imported beef as well as a 13 percent value added tax. Final details of trade with China is expected to be in place by early next month.