Washington - Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse will lead nearly 40 American businesses on a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission to China March 23-28. U.S. agricultural exports to China have grown more than 80 percent in the past three years. The USDA trade mission aims to help American businesses strike new deals, strengthen business ties, expand their markets, and support jobs for Americans.
"This is the largest USDA trade mission to date," said Scuse. "China and the United States share a special relationship, and we embrace this opportunity to demonstrate that our U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers are reliable suppliers of the highest-quality food and agricultural products. At the same time, USDA and our federal partners will continue to aggressively work to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade."
Also joining Scuse on the mission are leaders from six state departments of agriculture, including Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese and representatives from North Carolina, Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota. In Shanghai, the delegation will be joined by Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Darci Vetter and Ambassador Islam Siddiqui, who is the chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
During stops in Chengdu and Shanghai, participants will meet with dozens of Chinese producers, importers, buyers, distributors and investors. The mission also coincides with the Food Ingredients China (FIC) trade show where Scuse will cut the ribbon to open the show's USA Pavilion.
Chinese demand for bulk commodities like soybeans and cotton is high, while demand for high-value U.S. products like meat and processed foods continues to grow. Bilateral trade between the United States and China in fiscal year 2011 reached an all-time high of $32.1 billion. U.S. exports to China were $22.8 billion and exports from China to the United States were $9.3 billion. Today, USDA's largest overseas presence is in China. With seven offices in five cities, USDA is well-positioned to support American agriculture and agribusinesses.
The Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's leadership, has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade, helping to push agricultural exports to record levels in 2011 and beyond. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its best periods in history thanks to the productivity and resourcefulness of our producers. Today, net farm income is at near record levels while debt has been cut in half since the 1980s. Overall, American agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs in the United States and provides American consumers with 83 percent of the food we consume, while maintaining affordability and choice. Strong agricultural exports contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, create jobs, boost economic growth and support President Obama's National Export Initiative goal of doubling all U.S. exports by the end of 2014.
A list of companies participating in the China trade mission follows. For more information, visit http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/ATM/China2012/default.asp.
U.S. Companies Participating in USDA China Trade Mission, March 2012
Company
Location
Market
AgWorld International
Illinois
Breeding Stock, Livestock, Veterinary Equipment
Airfresh Seafood
Washington
Seafood
The Biltmore Company
North Carolina
Wine, Tourism
C.I.B.
Minnesota
Barley, Biotechnology
CK International, Ltd.
Iowa
Pork and Pork Products, Produce
Case New Holland
Delaware
Equipment
China Iowa Group
Iowa
Animal Feed, Consumer and Industrial Goods
Cranberry Marketing Committee
Massachusetts
Cranberries
Dantzler
Florida
Forestry Products
Des Moines Area Community College
Iowa
Education
Diamond V
Iowa
Animal Feed
Dodge City Beef
Kansas
Beef
Duck Pond Cellars
Oregon
Wine
Faegre B.D. Consultig
Iowa
Legal Consulting
Far West Fruit Co.
Oregon
Fruits and Vegetables
Garuda International, Inc.
California
Food Ingredients
Glacier Treasures
New York
Wine
Herr’s Foods Inc.
Pennsylvania
Snack Foods
KH International
Georgia
Dried Fruits and Nuts
Kerns and Associates
Iowa
Agricultural Risk Management
Land O Lakes Purina Feed LLC
Washington
Dairy, Feed and Processed Products
North Food Group
Texas
Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Grocery Products, Produce
OSI Group
Hong Kong
Commercial Food Sourcing
Pacific Ag Commodities Corporation
California
Grains, Inputs, Ingredients, Oil, Dairy, Grocery Products
PS International Ltd.
North Carolina
Meat, Poultry, Edible Oils, Flour, Sugar, Other Commodities
Sage Hill Northwest
Washington
Feed Products
SIG International Iowa, Inc.
Iowa
Pork
Spring Lake Winery, LLC
New York
Wine
Stine Seed Company
Iowa
Seeds
Sun-Maid Growers of California
California
Dried Fruit
Syngenta, LLC
Wisconsin
Biotechnology, Seeds
Taylor Brothers Farms, Inc.
California
Prunes, Cherries, Pomegranate Products
Ten Square International
Iowa
Import/Export
U.S.-China Agricultural Center
Iowa
Non-Profit
U.S. Grains Council
Washington, D.C.
USDA Cooperator Group Representing Corn, Barley, Grain Sorghum, Agribusiness
Valley Pride Sales, Inc.
Washington
Potatoes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spirits
Valley Proteins, Inc.
Virginia
Recycled Animal Fats and Proteins
Vermeer Corporation
Iowa
Equipment
World Wood Wholesale
North Carolina
Wood
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service
