Council Signs MOU In China, Takes Part In International Import Expo

Earlier this month, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Chairman Brent Boydston and USGC Vice President Cary Sifferath traveled to Shanghai, China for the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) as part of a wider mission to engage the Chinese agricultural industry and strengthen trade cooperation. Visit grains.org to learn more about the first leg of this mission.

Boydston and Sifferath began their trip in Beijing, where they participated in the U.S.-China Agricultural Trade Cooperation Forum and met with U.S. Ambassador to China Nick Burns and multiple major stakeholders, including the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

China is the largest overall export market for U.S. agricultural products with nearly $41 billion worth of business conducted in 2022, which accounts for 20 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports.

“China is an extremely significant market for U.S. agriculture exports, and that’s why it’s so important for industry leaders from both countries to meet, discuss mutual needs and ideas and ensure our trade relationship is built to last and to the benefit of both U.S. producers and consumers in China and around the world,” Boydston said.

Ambassador Burns, along with U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Undersecretary Jason Hafemeister, unveiled the U.S. Food and Agriculture Pavilion in the expo hall and kicked off the event, that featured more than 200 agricultural, automotive, technology, pharmaceutical and health care companies gathered in the spirit of global partnership and trade. Boydston, Sifferath and USGC China Director Manuel Sanchez then participated in a media interview with China Global Television Network focused on international cooperation in agriculture.

“The Chinese market has a long-standing affinity for pork meat, and it takes a whole lot of grains and oilseeds to produce over 55 million tons of annual pork supply in China,” Sanchez said.

Sifferath also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Council and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal Byproducts as a symbol of ongoing collaboration between the countries’ local agricultural value chains.

“This MOU signing is a further example of the mutual trust and understanding between the Council and its counterparts here in China to help provide local consumers with the best possible sources of feed grains and develop markets for U.S. products,” Sifferath said.

The day culminated in a meeting bringing together local staff from the Council, the U.S. Soybean Export Council and others to recognize their efforts in continuing to make China a top market for U.S. feed grains.

“The Council’s work here in China is as imperative today as ever in the 41 years since we established a physical presence in China. U.S.-China agricultural trade has presented strong complementarity for both economies, as evidenced by the size and structure, playing an essential role in developing mutually beneficial trade and economic relations for both countries,” Sanchez said.