NGFA National Grain and Feed Association : issues statement on signing of Phase One trade accord with China

01.15.20Press Releases, Trade

NGFA issues statement on signing of Phase One trade accord with China

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2020 - The National Grain and Feed Association issued the following statement on the signing of the Phase One trade agreement with China. NGFA Chairman Eric Wilkey, president of Arizona Grain Inc., Casa Grande, Ariz., was among agricultural industry leaders attending the signing ceremony at the White House today.

'The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commends President Trump and his administration for successfully concluding and signing a Phase One trade accord with the People's Republic of China. It represents a significant first step in resolving disruptions and long-standing, festering impediments involving trade between the world's two largest economies, and contains substantial commitments from China to purchase U.S. food, agricultural and seafood products. It also is significant that the agreement contains Chinese commitments to abide by science- and risk-based processes with transparency and specific timelines for regulatory actions related to agricultural biotechnology, animal food, and meat and poultry products.

'NGFA looks forward to delving into the details of the agreement and its application to U.S. agricultural exports, and will have additional comments and analysis once doing so. But early indications are that the Phase One agreement will help begin the process of restoring U.S.-China agricultural trade volumes and effectively address several existing trade impediments for specific agricultural products.

'NGFA believes more negotiations need to occur to resolve particularly non-tariff barriers to trade, including sanitary and phytosanitary issues, affecting grain and grain products, that too frequently and unpredictably disrupt U.S. agricultural trade with China. NGFA also seeks to restore competitive open market agricultural trade and a level playing field with China. NGFA appreciates the administration's recognition of these issues and will be encouraging that they be addressed in Phase Two negotiations with China. NGFA hopes those discussions will begin soon to build on the momentum and progress established in the Phase One agreement.'

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NGFA, established in 1896, consists of more than 1,000 grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 7,000 facilities and handle more than 70 percent of all U.S. grains and oilseeds. Its membership includes grain elevators; feed and feed ingredient manufacturers; biofuels companies; grain and oilseed processors and millers; exporters; livestock and poultry integrators; and associated firms that provide goods and services to the nation's grain, feed and processing industry. NGFA also consists of 33 affiliated State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations, and NGFA is co-located and has a strategic alliance with North American Export Grain Association, and a strategic alliance with Pet Food Institute.