Smith and Costa Lead 105 Lawmakers in Urging President Obama to Prioritize U.S. Biotech with China
Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Jim Costa (D-CA) led 105 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to make biotech approvals a priority issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to Washington this week.
“China’s marketplace presents enormous opportunity for Nebraska agriculture, especially with the Third District being the number one agriculture producing district in America,” Rep. Adrian Smith said. “Unfortunately, China’s arbitrary treatment of U.S. biotech products is hindering the ability of American producers to compete on a level playing field and help feed the world. We are eager for President Obama to continue advancing U.S. trade by pressing President Xi to meet China’s biotech commitments.”
“As a Representative for one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation, I believe it is imperative that we use all the tools available to ensure that American agricultural products remain competitive in the global marketplace,” said Rep. Jim Costa. “While the creation of the Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue is a step forward in advancing the United States and China’s common agricultural objectives, the long delay of China’s approval of biotech crops and grains is concerning. That is why my colleagues and I are asking President Obama to urge President Xi to implement commitments made last year so that U.S. biotechnology products will be approved for import. This will enable the U.S. agriculture industry to continue science-based agricultural innovation which better equips us to manage food insecurity as well as environmental and economic policy changes that both the U.S. and China face.”
“China is a vital market for the future prosperity of America’s farmers and ranchers. GMO crops and other tools of modern agriculture that are proven safe and offer environmental advantages should know no boundaries,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We will continue to work with members of Congress and the administration to find a solution leading to increased and freer commerce between the United States and China.”
“The National Corn Growers Association is pleased with efforts by Congress to deepen the relationship between the U.S. and China to continue moving the dialogue on agricultural biotechnology forward,” said Chip Bowling, president of the National Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Newburg, Maryland. “Corn farmers value both the access to technology and to markets for our abundant crop. We appreciate Congress’ engagement to emphasize cooperation and policies that foster trade while maintaining science-based regulatory processes that allow for innovation.”
“The American Soybean Association thanks congressional leaders for highlighting the importance of agricultural biotech issues with China,” said American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan. “China is the top trading partner for the U.S. soy industry, and in order to maintain that relationship it is vital to have transparent and continuously improving approval processes for trait approvals in China.”
“Ongoing trade disruptions due to a lack of equivalency with China have caused significant hardship for American producers,” said Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union president. “NFU applauds efforts by Congress and the Administration to address this issue with Chairman Xi for the benefit of our nation’s farmers.”
“BIO applauds the efforts of these leaders in Congress towards resolving agriculture and biotech issues with China, one of our most important trading partners,” said Brian Baenig, Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO’s) executive vice president for food and agriculture. “The congressmen’s letter highlights the need for the United States and China to work together towards policies that promote innovation in agriculture, foster trade and bolster ag production and food security.”
Smith and Costa serve as co-chairmen of the House Modern Agriculture Caucus. To view a PDF copy of their letter, please click here. The complete text is available below.
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President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We appreciate your administration’s efforts over the past two years to elevate the U.S.-China dialogue on agricultural innovation and urge you to make biotech approvals a priority issue with President Xi Jinping during his official visit to Washington later this month.
Last year in Beijing, the United States and China created the Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue (SAID), which if managed properly, can be a venue for the United States and China to advance common agricultural objectives and ensure an ongoing commitment to transparency, open communication, and science-based regulatory decision-making for biotech crops and grains. We are hopeful the United States and China will expeditiously engage in a formal SAID conversation.
While we applaud the creation of the SAID and appreciate China’s approval of three long delayed biotechnology-derived crops, we are concerned by the continued long delay in approval of additional products. China’s Ministry of Agriculture continues to delay regulatory action on a growing number of biotechnology-derived crops. It is also proposing new regulations which threaten to create additional regulatory uncertainty. Both of these actions run counter to commitments made last year to bolster science-based agricultural innovation and trade policy and have a negative impact on the U.S. food supply chain and Chinese buyers who rely on commodity market stability. Biotech products are essential to that market stability because agricultural innovation and modern plant breeding techniques help farmers grow stronger crops with higher yields.
We ask you to seek assurances from President Xi to implement the commitments made last year by advancing the full queue of biotechnology products, including the seven currently awaiting final import approvals. In addition, we ask you to elevate and intensify the SAID so our countries can, over the longer term, jointly tackle serious food security, environmental, and rural economic policy challenges which face both our nations.