Vilsack: We Must Continue To Put Pressure On China

In order to maintain the Ag export pace that is forecasted to set records for this year and next, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the U.S. needs to make sure," We continue to put pressure on China to live up to its requirements and its promises that it made in the phase one trade agreement."

Vilsack says while China has continued to increase purchases of our nation's farm and food goods.

"They're still not at the level that they agreed to be and so we're going to continue to press them to meet their obligations and responsibilities."

He also notes the importance of addressing sanitary and phytosanitary trade barriers identified in the Phase One agreement and expanding US trade opportunities in the Chinese market.

"We know that of the 57 SPS issues that China agreed to take care of, they've done about 50 of them," Vilsack said. "But there are seven really very large SPS issue that still remain to be done. So we're going to make sure that we continue to press our Chinese friend on those issues."

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