"I am cautiously optimistic about the early reports on key agricultural issues, including improvements in China's tariff offers on meat imports. I remain very concerned about any insistence by China on TRQs, or tariff rate quotas, for soybean products. The Uruguay Round negotiators thought these quota equivalents would open up world markets to ag imports because of the greater transparency, but they were wrong. In fact, TRQs further limited the access for imports by locking in very high tariffs. As our negotiators sit at the table this week, they need to remember that the last thing America's agricultural sector needs right now is another failed reform touted as a successful political deal.
"There is so much at stake for American agriculture in these negotiations. We have just one chance to get it right with China. A WTO invitation should not be extended just for a photo-op at the White House. A good market access agreement with China could help the world trading system achieve the stability it badly needs. But a political deal that shortchanges market access will put more strain on the WTO dispute resolution mechanism and could even thwart the momentum for free trade."
Last month, Senator Grassley introduced legislation to give Congress an opportunity to review the terms under which China might be admitted to the WTO. His legislation expands the requirement in current law that the U.S Trade Representative must consult with Congress before the U.S. casts a vote in favor of China's admission to the WTO. It states that Congress shall have at least 60 days to review all the relevant documents related to China's possible accession before a vote is taken. The Grassley bill also specifies the documents that the administration must provide to Congress for review. And the legislation gives Congress the opportunity to vote on China's admission to the WTO before China can be admitted.
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