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Klobuchar Leads Bipartisan Push for U.S. Pork Exports to China

18 senators join Klobuchar in urging China to honor commitment to reopen markets to U.S. producers

February 25, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, leading 18 senators in a letter, urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Trade Representative Ron Kirk to ensure China keeps its commitment to reopen its markets to American pork exports.

 “Pork producers in Minnesota and across the nation should not continue to be unfairly denied access to Chinese markets,” said Klobuchar.  “I will continue to push the Administration to hold China accountable for its commitments and to expand opportunities for U.S. exports overseas.”

Since the discovery of the H1N1 virus, domestic hog farmers have suffered from decreased international demand, despite no known link between eating pork products and the virus. U.S. producers have faced increased trade barriers, as China and other countries used the H1N1 virus as an excuse to bar American pork products, thereby boosting their domestic pork industries.

Following the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in October, U.S. officials announced that China had pledged to re-open its market to the United States and follow consistent, scientifically based standards for accepting imported meat. However, China continues to deny access to its markets for U.S. pork products.

Nationwide, the U.S. Pork industry supports 35,000 full-time equivalent jobs, 515,000 indirect jobs and generates $34.5 billion of gross national product to the U.S. economy. Minnesota is the nation’s third largest pork producer, with 2,500 farms and more than 20,000 jobs in hog production and pork processing.

The full text of Klobuchar’s letter is below:

February 25, 2010

The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington DC 20250

The Honorable Ron Kirk
United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20508

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Kirk:

Five months ago, the People’s Republic of China pledged to reopen its markets to American pork exports.  We are writing today to inquire about the status of China’s pledge and to support the Administration in ensuring this commitment to reopen China’s market is honored.

Beginning on April 26, 2009, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of China banned the direct or indirect imports of swine and swine products from states with confirmed cases of “human swine influenza.”  This ban included many major pork exporting states. At the conclusion of the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), we were very pleased to hear from you and from U.S. Trade Representative Kirk that China would re-open its market to the United States and follow consistent, scientifically based standards for accepting imported meat.
 
The U.S. Pork industry supports 35,000 full-time equivalent jobs, 515,000 indirect jobs and generates $34.5 billion of gross national product to the U.S. economy.  During these challenging economic times, these jobs are vital.  However, following last year’s H1N1 outbreak, the vitality of the pork industry was hurt by unfounded export disruptions in places like China.  Dealing with complex and intertwined trade issues is a difficult task.  However, we believe it is important that China honor the agreement to open its export market to U.S. pork and we urge you to do everything within your means to ensure this market is reopened as promised.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue and we look forward to working with you to restore and grow our agricultural export capacity.

Sincerely,

 

Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)     John Thune (R-SD)
Kit Bond (R-MO)      Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)     Carl Levin (D-VT)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)      George Voinovich (R-OH)
Roland Burris (D-IL)      Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Richard Burr (R-NC)      Al Franken (D-MN)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)      Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Mike Johanns (R-NE)     Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)    Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

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