Hearing on Chinese Ag Purchases Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. A House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and China held their first hearing this week titled “The Chinese Communist Party’s Threat to America.”
Representative Dan Newhouse says China is one of our most significant markets for ag products, but their tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers are difficult …
NEWHOUSE … “Bottom line is, China does not play by global rules on trade.”
But, Newhouse says, they also have a disturbing practice here …
NEWHOUSE … “Entities associated with the PRC, as well as the CCP, have made and continue to make investments in U.S. agricultural land and assets. Some of the proposed purchases are in close proximity to national security assets.”
During the hearing, Newhouse asked former National Security
Advisor, HR McMaster to chime in …
NEWHOUSE ... “How concerned are you by the CCP-backed purchases of American agricultural land and those potential purchases near strategic sites such as military installations or critical infrastructure?”
McMaster’s response …
McMASTER … “I’m very concerned about that, about the purchase of lands and buildings next to sensitive sites. It’s extraordinary the degree to which the Chinese Communist Party has pursued a massive campaign of espionage. That’s one facet of it.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on China’s threat to American agriculture.
