USMEF Statement on Progress in Trade Negotiations with China
The White House provided more details Nov. 1 on the measures agreed to in last week’s meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, including progress on agricultural trade barriers imposed by China and suspension of port service fees that raise costs for U.S. exporters.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:
USMEF is encouraged by the progress being made in trade negotiations with China, and we appreciate the Trump administration’s emphasis on restoring market access for U.S. agricultural exports. If China follows through on its commitment to suspend all retaliatory tariffs announced since March 4, and to suspend or remove all retaliatory non-tariff countermeasures taken since that date, this puts U.S. pork in a much more competitive position in the Chinese market. If the removal of non-tariff barriers means that China will promptly renew the U.S. beef plant and cold storage registrations that it has allowed to expire over the past nine months, this will restore access to a critical beef export market. China’s recent delisting of some U.S. beef plants for technical violations is also a retaliatory measure that must be addressed. We are anxious to see further progress on these issues.
USMEF also appreciates the one-year pause in port service fees and China’s countermeasures imposed on U.S. vessels. While USMEF is supportive of the Trump administration’s efforts to revitalize America’s maritime industry, we encourage an approach that stimulates investment and avoids increasing costs for U.S. exporters and cargo owners.
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USMEF Media Contact:
Joe Schuele
303-547-0030