During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first official state visit to Washington D.C. last week, more than 40 U.S. senators pressed President Obama to raise a number of concerns shared by American stakeholders regarding agricultural biotech approval delays by China.
Led by Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), signed off on a letter to the president that urged him to “seek a commitment from President Xi to move forward with the queue of biotechnology products, including those awaiting final import approvals” during the inaugural U.S.-China Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue (SAID).
The Senators’ request came after a number of industry leaders — including farm bureaus, corn growers associations, and soybean associations, among others — sent their own letter to Obama saying the number of biotech crops under review in China’s Ministry of Agriculture is creating uncertainty in the market.
“In addition, we ask that you reengage President Xi on the value of elevating the agricultural innovation dialogue via the SAID so that our countries can continue to address mutual food security, environmental and rural economic policy challenges,” the Senators wrote.