With just over a week before U.S. Presidential Election Day, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report highlighting the progress made so far in implementing the agricultural provisions of the first phase of the trade agreement. According to the report, China has implemented at least 50 of the 57 technology commitments and has also significantly increased its purchases of U.S. agricultural products.
In an Oct. 23 statement, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that since the first phase of the agreement, which brought “historic results for U.S. agriculture,” went into effect, the U.S. and China have resolved numerous structural barriers that China has imposed on U.S. food and agricultural exports.
“To date, China has fulfilled at least 50 of the 57 technology commitments in the Phase I agreement. These structural changes will benefit U.S. farmers for decades to come,” the statement said. “China has also significantly increased its purchases of U.S. agricultural products. To date, China has purchased more than $23 billion in agricultural products, about 71 percent of the target of the first phase of the agreement.”
The report said U.S. corn contract sales to China reached an all-time high of 8.7 million tons; exports of beef and beef products to China tripled the total for all of 2017 in the first eight months of the year; U.S. sorghum exports to China totaled $617 million in the first eight months of the year; and U.S. pork exports to China set a record in the first five months of the year.
In addition, USDA expects U.S. agricultural exports to China for pet food, alfalfa hay, pecans, peanuts and manufactured goods to reach record or near-record levels this year.
“The first phase of the agreement with China is proof that President Trump’s negotiating strategy is working,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement. “While it took China a long time to realize that President Trump was serious, the agreement is a tremendous success for the entire economy.”
He added that the agreement ultimately levels the playing field for U.S. agriculture, bringing in money for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers and strengthening the rural economy.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer also said, “President Trump has made good on his promise to confront China’s unfair trade practices and expand market opportunities for U.S. agriculture through the Phase I agreement.”
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Agriculture said they will continue to work closely with the Chinese government to ensure that the Phase I trade agreement is fully and properly implemented.
The Trump administration’s release of the report comes as Americans are set to vote for president on Nov. 3. President Trump’s Democratic opponent, former Vice President Biden, has accused Trump’s trade war of hurting American farmers. And President Trump says that China has been screwing the U.S. and that he is the one who has turned the tide against the weakness of previous presidents.
During the Oct. 22 presidential debate, the two men went toe-to-toe over the U.S.-China trade war. Biden said the United States should work with its allies to force China to abide by the rules. President Trump said Biden has not cost China a penny in all his years in government, and his tariffs are costing China. Trump said. As a result of his trade war, he has provided $28 billion to American farmers. Biden immediately interjected that it’s taxpayer money. Trump countered that it’s China’s money to pay for it.
China imported $8.6 billion in U.S. agricultural products from January through July of this year, and according to USDA data, China has dramatically increased its purchases of U.S. agricultural products recently.
China’s purchases of U.S. agricultural products so far have reached 71 percent of the Phase I agreement target.
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