SHANGHAI, China - (October 19, 2001) U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) Director Thelma J. Askey offered today a US$550,000 training initiative to promote bilateral cooperation and trade between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America in the field of agricultural biotechnology. The announcement took place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Ministers forum in Shanghai, China. The proposed training package would take place in the United States and China to include demonstrations on assessing risk and safety of agricultural biotechnology foods, and consideration of how customized regulatory systems are structured.

The training initiative would be a public-private partnership, funded by TDA with contributions from other U.S. Government agencies, independent research institutes and the U.S. private sector. TDA hopes that this program could be used as a model for other APEC member countries to follow.

Under TDA's proposed offer, China's leading policymakers, regulators, researchers and scientists will be invited to participate in the training initiative. Training is expected to include at least 24 Chinese participants, and will be provided at various locations in the United States. In addition, a team of U.S. experts would travel to China to engage in a broad-based dialogue with Chinese agricultural biotechnology experts. To augment this training program, TDA has also offered to fund one fellowship for a Chinese scientist at the Danforth Plant Science Center (in St. Louis, Missouri), an independent research institute and international leader in the field of plant science research. The U.S.-based Council for Agricultural Science & Technology would implement this training initiative on TDA's behalf.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation by helping U.S. companies pursue business opportunities in developing and middle income countries. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance, we help American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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