23 September 2009

China, United States Renew Pact on Agricultural Cooperation

Agricultural ministers Sun Zhengcai, Tom Vilsack discuss trade concerns

Chinese farmworkers sort leeks at an organic farm on the outskirts of Beijing.

Washington — On September 22, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack welcomed China's minister of agriculture, Sun Zhengcai, to the United States to discuss a wide range of agricultural trade issues.

The two ministers concluded their talks by renewing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on bilateral cooperation in scientific research and agricultural trade between their two countries. The original MOU, signed in August 2003, established the Joint Committee on Cooperation in Agriculture (JCCA), which meets at least once every two years, alternately in the United States and China.

“Since China joined the WTO in 2001, it has become our fourth-largest market for agricultural exports,” said Vilsack. “With two-way agricultural trade reaching nearly $15 billion, it is not surprising that there are issues that require coordination.

“The renewal of this MOU is an indication of the importance that both countries place on cooperation and working together. The MOU solidifies the JCCA to develop and guide future collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.”

The next JCCA meetings are scheduled to begin October 22 in Washington. Following those meetings, Vilsack will travel to China along with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to participate in the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Hangzhou on October 29.

The JCCT serves as an important forum for Cabinet-level officials from both countries to resolve trade concerns and enhance economic opportunities and cooperation. Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services James Miller recently returned from China, where he participated in meetings of the Agriculture and Sanitary and Phytosanitary working groups under the JCCT.

The full text of the memorandum of understanding (PDF, 26.35KB) is available on the Department of Agriculture Web site.