Senator Sam Brownback (Republican of Kansas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is strongly encouraging China to improve its record in accepting agricultural imports from the United States, and to live up to its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments.

Senator Brownback was in China to discuss U.S.-China agricultural trade issues, according to a December 18 news release from his office.

Brownback told his Chinese hosts that "many in Congress who are strong supporters of strengthening the U.S.-China relationship are from largely rural states, and we see the great opportunity to open new markets in China."

Brownback emphasized to Chinese officials that a having a standard of zero pathogen for meat imports "is simply impossible - and would be seen as a move by the Chinese to use such concerns to avoid complying with their agreement to lower tariffs."

He met with Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and officials from China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. The Chinese officials expressed their appreciation to Brownback for recent efforts to de-link food sales from sanctions arising from foreign policy disputes.

"I assured the Chinese that the United States will not use food as a weapon," Brownback said.

Brownback Presses Chinese on Agriculture Trade Issues
Wednesday, December 18, 2002

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback today met with Chinese leaders to discuss trade relations between our nations. Sen. Brownback, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is in China this week to discuss a number of important issues including the need for China to live up to its WTO commitments. Specifically, Brownback strongly encouraged the Chinese to improve their record with regard to agriculture trade issues.

"Agriculture trade issues are very important to continued U.S. Congressional support of China," Brownback said. "Many in Congress who are strong supporters of strengthening the U.S.-China relationship are from largely-rural states, and we see the great opportunity to open new markets in China. However, if China does not actually implement these reforms, this support will erode.

"We have heard reports that the Chinese may be considering adopting a standard of zero pathogen for meat imports. This standard is simply impossible -- and would be widely seen as a move by the Chinese to use such concerns to avoid complying with their agreement to lower tariffs.

"I invite Chinese officials to tour an American meat-packing plant. Kansas has several facilities which are state-of-the-art and leave no doubt that American meat is the safest in the world," Brownback said.

Brownback specifically met with the Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and with officials from China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC). One issue raised by the Chinese was the appreciation for recent efforts to de-link food sales from sanctions and foreign policy.

"I have assured the Chinese that America has learned its lesson with regard to using food as a weapon," Brownback said. "I worked closely with Sen. Ashcroft to pass legislation that exempts food and medicine from unilateral sanctions.

"The Chinese stated they have been greatly reassured by this and see it as finally turning the corner which will allow them to depend on American food sales regardless of international disputes. The Chinese noted that this is very important in their ability to comply with the promises made to lower tariffs and open their markets to U.S. agriculture.

"I assured the Chinese that the United States will not use food as a weapon," Brownback said.