WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2013 - In a letter sent today to U.S. Trade
Representative Ambassador Michael Froman, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the American Farm Bureau Federation,
American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association and U.S. Canola
Association raised concerns regarding ongoing delays, lack of transparency and
arbitrary decisions in China’s process of approving new biotechnology traits.
The letter comes as the three administration officials prepare for a meeting of
the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) with the nation’s largest
trading partner this December.
“China is now the largest export market for U.S.
agricultural goods, valued at over $32 billion in 2012,” wrote the groups.
“However, in spite of our growing successful trade relationship, China’s
biotech approval process has gone from being slow but predictable to being even
slower, unpredictable and non-transparent.”
The groups maintain that China’s position as a major buyer
of U.S. commodities means that the current Chinese approval system is
preventing U.S. farmers from adopting the new technologies needed to increase
yields, fight pests and weeds, enhance quality and improve environmental
performance.
In the letter, the groups cited several key data points
illustrating the complications of the approvals process, including a 19-month
period in which no new soybean, corn, cotton or canola biotech traits had been
approved. When the backlog of traits was addressed, China approved just over
half of the applications. The groups say there are currently 15 biotech applications
pending approval.
“Farmers in the United States and around the world want to
help meet China’s food security needs and our organizations have been working
in partnership with the Chinese food, feed, livestock and textile industries
for decades,” they noted. “However, the ability to efficiently and consistently
produce and increase production of our crops depends on commercializing new
biotech traits that can increase yields, improve quality, and ultimately
provide Chinese consumers with more affordable and healthy food and fiber.”
A full copy of the letter is available here.
#30
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