WASHINGTON (November 14, 2019) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota, and Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Chairman Jim Costa of California, released the following statements Thursday morning following an announcement from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that China will lift its ban on the import of U.S.-produced poultry products:

“This announcement is finally a step in the right direction, especially for the more than 1200 poultry operations in my district,” said Peterson. “It’s something that I’ve pressed the Administration over and over on, including in my most recent conversation with Ambassador Doud at USTR. I hope the Administration can also make progress on the other trade access issues within the Chinese market, end these damaging tariffs, and help our farmers expand and develop new export markets.” 

"As the farm economy continues to struggle, it's important to get these incremental successes to show our producers that there's light at the end of the tunnel,” added Costa. “Now I hope USDA can build on this development to increase access for U.S. farm and food products in China, but none of that can really take hold if the Administration isn't willing to reconsider its tariff strategy."