EU Frustrations & China Trade

EU Frustrations & China Trade. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says his meeting with China’s Minister of Agriculture was productive and included talks on trade issues plus the signing of an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

VILSACK: We had a very fruitful and extended conversation about developing a relationship of trust between the two of us, between his Ministry and my Departments. I think there is consensus that we have 30 year relationship that has grown over time that is certainly a benefit to American farmers and I would argue a benefit as well to the Chinese. Are there ways we can build on that relationship? There are some impediments now, some barriers. There are a multitude of issues in beef and pork and poultry to name three and we need to work through those issues, and I think we can.

The European Union has expressed frustration with the United States for a lack of progress on climate change legislation. The E-U is pressuring Washington to get legislation completed by the United Nations’ December summit on global warming. This has brought agreement by U.S. Senators on both sides of the isle, saying they will proceed on their own timetable. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski says - this is a serious enough issue that we must take the time to do it right.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange Report.

(GRANGE)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.