News

Perdue says China agreement will level the playing field

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue spoke with reporters at last week’s Farmer2Farmer Conference in Omaha.

Tariffs have received most of the attention, but another key aspect of the phase one trade agreement with China could be a reduction in longstanding non-tariff trade barriers, including restrictions on U.S. beef, dairy, and biotech products.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, speaking to reporters in Omaha last week, said removal of those barriers would help level the playing field with export competitors and allow the U.S. to recapture some of its lost market share in China.

“If we’re allowed to compete fairly and favorably in the world trade, I think we can certainly compete with our South American neighbors, or anywhere in the world,” Perdue said. “That’s been the challenge—our farmers have suffered the protectionist wall, while China has been courting Brazil and others through infrastructure and other promises. But I can assure you, if we get a fair, level playing field, we can get the markets back.”

And Perdue cautioned, once again, about becoming too reliant on the Chinese market.

“I would submit to you, we don’t need to be totally dependent on China for that big customer, as we once were,” he says. “That’s why we’re going to those markets like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Malaysia, in order to build markets that way. Those people eat, too.”

Perdue spoke at last week’s Farmer2Farmer Conference in Omaha.

AUDIO: Excerpt from Perdue’s news conference at Farmer2Farmer

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!

Brownfield Ag News