Barley from Uruguay that meets quarantine requirements can be imported from Feb. 15, the first notice said. Uruguayan corn can enter China from Feb. 18, according to the second customs notice.

The new trade move came as Beijing pushes to diversify imports amid rocky trade relations with its major grains suppliers, including the United States and Australia.

China in November last year launched an anti-dumping probe into barley imports from Australia, its top supplier of the grain.

It also imposed a 25 percent tariff last July on a list of US products, including corn and sorghum, two other major animal feed ingredients, in response to similar moves by Washington.

Beijing and Washington have resumed talks following a trade truce agreed on by leaders from the two countries on December 1, but China's hefty penalties on US grains cargoes remained, effectively curbing trade.

Beijing also approved corn and barley imports from Kazakhstan in late November last year.