National Pork Producers Council president Don Butler told Agriculture Online Thursday that he was pleased with the news from USDA Thursday that China plans to reopen its borders to U.S. pork exports.

NPPC was informed Thursday morning by USDA, he said.

"We're hoping that will be an immediate thing but we dont have all the details at the moment," he said.

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"It's a big deal because China was our third largest market last year," Butler said. "If you get any portion of a 1.3 billion population market, it's a big deal."

China ranked behind Japan and Mexico as export markets for the U.S. in 2008 but stopped imports after the outbreak of H1N1 influenza last spring, even though H1N1 isn't swine flu and people can't get influenza from eating cooked meat.

Butler said Thursday that China consumes 47% of the world's pork. It is both a major producer and consumer, relying on imports to help meet demand.

"Pork is the meat of choice in China, so it's a huge opportunity for producers," Butler said.

NPPC is among many groups and farm state politicians who have pressured the White House to pressure China to end the ban.

"We certainly are appreciative of all the efforts the Obama Administration made," Butler said, adding that resuming pork trade was at the top of Agriculture Secretary's agenda when he went to China this week along with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) had also urged Vilsack to urge an end to the ban.

"I want to compliment Secretary Vilsack and also Trade Representative Kirk for what they've done in China," Harkin said Thursday. "There was absolutely no scientific justification for what they [the Chinese] did."