Ag groups ask Obama to press Chinese president on trade-access issues

Courtesy of worldatlas.com
The American Soybean Association (ASA) and the U.S. Biotech Crops Alliance (USBCA) recently sent a letter to President Obama calling for swift action on pending biotech-product import approvals in China and asking that “practical, trade-facilitating measures to ensure increased Chinese access” to U.S. products be a top priority during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington later this month.

“We ask that you raise the need for China to establish a transparent, predictable and practical approach to both biotechnology approvals and imports of grains and oilseeds that may contain crop biotechnology,” the letter said. “A second goal is to obtain a commitment from President Xi to advance the full queue of biotechnology products, including the seven currently awaiting final import approvals, and other products in or awaiting field trials.”

The U.S. considers China a key export target for soybeans, but China has restrictive regulatory-approval procedures for biotech products, causing roadblocks for U.S. exporters who want to sell their products in China.

“Finally, we urge you to re-engage President Xi on the importance of elevating and intensifying the Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue so that we can tackle serious food, environmental and economic challenges in the strongest possible manner over the long term,” the letter said.

In addition to the letter sent by ASA and USBCA, the ASA sent another letter to President Obama addressing the importance of biotech issues and how they affect U.S farmers.