WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today urged the White House to re-affirm the primary role of the United States Trade Representative's Office in representing U.S. trade interests and to pressChina to accept U.S. pork and beef based on sound science and trade rules.
Grassley is ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over international trade. In a letter to President Obama, Grassley expressed concern that agencies including the State Department may be seeking to displace the United States Trade Representative's Office on trade matters, contrary to a congressionally established functional division more than 45 years ago.
Grassley also urged Administration officials, when meeting with a visiting delegation from China next week as part of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, to raise the issue of China's continued barriers to exports of U.S. pork and beef. "These scientifically unfounded barriers negatively impact producers in my home state of Iowa," Grassley wrote.
The text of Grassley's letter to the President follows here.
July 21, 2009
The Honorable Barack H. Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Obama:
I write to express one general concern, and also to raise two specific issues with respect to our bilateral trading relationship with China in advance of the upcoming meetings of the renamed Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
First, I am concerned that the role of the United States Trade Representative as principal advisor to the President regarding the development and articulation of U.S. trade policy is being undermined by the pronouncements and efforts of other agencies, in particular the State Department. This is neither a new concern, nor is it partisan—I harbored similar reservations with respect to jurisdictional encroachment by the State and Treasury Departments under the administration of President George W. Bush. Such other departments within the Executive Branch necessarily seek to advance their own priorities that, while certainly important, may result in undue subordination of our nation's trade interests. Indeed, it was for this very reason that Congress chose to cleave the functions of the Office of the United States Trade Representative from the State Department over 45 years ago. I urge you to reaffirm the lead role of the U.S. Trade Representative in negotiating all trade matters on behalf of your Administration.
Second, I ask that when meeting with the visiting delegation from China next week, your Administration raise the issue of China's continued barriers to exports of U.S. pork and beef. These scientifically unfounded barriers negatively impact producers in my home state of Iowa.
China bans imports of U.S. pork due to alleged concerns about the H1N1 virus. Yet according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the H1N1 virus is not transmitted through food. These international organizations further state that there is no scientific justification for trade restrictions on pork and pork products on account of this virus. China also prohibits imports of U.S. beef due to alleged concerns over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Yet, the OIE recognizes that U.S. boneless and bone-in beef derived from cattle of all ages can be traded safely due to safeguards undertaken by the United States.
The United States and China benefit by operating under a rules-based trading system, which in turn relies upon the determinations of internationally recognized scientific organizations. Such organizations have examined the scientific evidence and have concluded that U.S. pork and beef is safe and may be traded safely. I urge you to take the opportunity of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue to encourage China to base its food safety regulations on the standards of these organizations, and therefore reopen its market to imports of U.S. pork and beef.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley