Agriculture
Secretary Mike Johanns today announced progress with China on
several key market access fronts, following meetings here with
Chinese officials.
"Last year, U.S. farmers and ranchers sold over $6 billion in
agriculture products to China, making it our 5th largest export
market," said Johanns. "These agreements with the Chinese today
will help to further expand our trade opportunities with one of
American agriculture's top trading partners to build on our
current trade success."
In his first visit to China as Secretary of Agriculture,
Johanns took part in the meeting of the U.S.-China Joint
Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), a bilateral forum for
resolving trade issues, which was also attended by U.S. Trade
Representative Rob Portman and Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez. Leading the delegation for China was Vice Premier Wu
Yi.
Johanns affirmed with Chinese officials the need for China to
lift its ban on U.S. beef, noting the critical need for China to
adhere to a science-based system that includes following
internationally recognized BSE guidelines. He urged the Chinese
officials to send a technical team to the United States to help
facilitate the timely re-opening of their market.
In response, China has pledged to send a technical team to
the U.S. in October of this year and will be working with USDA
officials in the interim to provide more information on the
timeline and process for reopening their market to U.S. beef.
Johanns also announced the approval by China of NK603, a
variety of Round Up Ready corn, bringing the total Chinese
biotech approvals to eight varieties of corn, two of cotton,
seven of canola and one variety of soybeans. Johanns commended
the Chinese for these biotechnology approvals and noted the
willingness of the U.S. to work with China to promote a
regulatory system based on sound science to expedite future
approvals.
"Cooperation is essential in any trading relationship," said
Johanns. "A great example of our cooperative efforts is in the
area of biotechnology where we are working together on the
development and use of agricultural biotechnology that benefits
farmers and consumers alike. U.S. corn farmers will welcome the
long-awaited Chinese approval of Round Up Ready corn, which is
the result of science-based decision making."
Johanns and Minister Li Changjiang of China's General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
reached an agreement on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to
improve bilateral cooperation on animal and plant health and
food safety.
"With this MOU, we will establish a vehicle to address the
sanitary, phytosanitary and food safety issues that have
hindered U.S. agriculture's access to this important market,"
said Johanns. The MOU will provide a forum to seek resolution of
bilateral technical food safety issues and promote scientific
exchange to resolve technical barriers to trade, like meat,
poultry and eggs and other food products under the regulatory
authority of USDA.
This MOU will also provide for the exchanges of information
on relevant laws; regulations and standards; inspection and
quarantine procedures; methodology and technology; pests and
disease; toxic and harmful residues; food certification and
establishment registration.
Johanns now travels with U.S. Trade Representative Rob
Portman to Dalian, China to take part in a meeting with trade
ministers from key members of the World Trade Organization
(WTO). In addition to the WTO meetings, Johanns will also have
bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Australia, Canada,
Japan and South Korea.
Throughout Johanns travels to China and later this week to
Madagascar and Senegal, a travel log of his experiences is being
periodically posted to the USDA website at
http://www.usda.gov, in
addition to news releases and other informational links.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary announces travel to China and Africa:
Discussions to focus on expanding agricultural trade and
development
Washington, DC
July 9, 2005
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will travel to China and
Africa July 9-21 for multilateral and bilateral meetings on
agricultural trade and development. Johanns will periodically
post a travel log to the USDA website to record his impressions,
experience and progress from meetings with foreign leaders.
"When I became Secretary of Agriculture, I pledged to be an
advocate at the negotiating table for America's farmers and
ranchers," said Johanns. "This trip presents important venues to
expand market access available to U.S. farm products by
enhancing our economic ties with trading partners across the
globe."
While in China, Johanns will participate in the July 11
meeting of the
U.S.-China Joint Commission on
Commerce and Trade
(JCCT) in Beijing, along with U.S. Trade Representative Rob
Portman and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. The JCCT serves
as an important forum for Cabinet-level officials from both
countries to resolve trade concerns and enhance economic
opportunities and cooperation.
Johanns will then travel with U.S. Trade Representative Rob
Portman to Dalian, China to meet with approximately 30 trade
ministers from World Trade
Organization (WTO) member nations to advance negotiations
toward a successful multilateral trade agreement at the
WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong this December. Johanns will
also use the meeting as an opportunity to meet with counterparts
from Japan and South Korea to discuss reopening their markets to
U.S. beef and other issues.
Since accession to the WTO in December 2001,
China has become one of the most rapidly growing markets for
U.S. agricultural export's, with exports tripling from $1.7
billion to $6.1 billion in 2004. Today, China is the fifth
largest market for U.S. agriculture exports, and the largest for
soybeans, cotton, hides and skins. China's continued economic
growth has the potential to drive a continued demand for U.S.
agricultural products, emphasizing the importance of ensuring
U.S. market access by removing trade barriers.
In Africa, Johanns will travel to Antananarivo, Madagascar
July 14 to July 16 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with
Harison Randriarimanana, Madagascar's Minister of Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries that will lay the groundwork for
cooperative activities between the United States and Madagascar.
Madagascar is the first Millennium Challenge Corporation
Recipient Country. Johanns will be the first cabinet member to
visit the island nation off the eastern coast of Africa and will
be meeting with President Marc Ravolomanana to further enhance
U.S. economic ties with Madagascar.
From Madagascar, Johanns will travel to Dakar, Senegal, to
lead the U.S. delegation at the fourth U.S.
-Sub-Saharan
Africa Trade and Economic
Cooperation Forum (AGOA), July 18 to July 20. The AGOA Forum
will bring together U.S. officials, government ministers from
the 37 AGOA-eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and
hundreds of U.S. and African business and civil society
stakeholders to enhance political and economic ties. The theme
for the forum is "Expanding and Diversifying Trade To Promote
Growth and Competitiveness."
AGOA provides trade preferences and technical assistance to
countries that are setting an important example on the African
continent by progress in economic, legal and human rights
reforms. By building stronger trade partnerships between
businesses in the United States and Sub-Saharan African
countries, AGOA demonstrates that governments that encourage
development are more likely to achieve political stability and
economic growth.
For updates on Johanns' trip to China and Africa, go to the
USDA website at
http://www.usda.gov, where a link to the Secretary's travel
log will be featured, along with photos and news releases.
