Representatives of the American Soybean Association (ASA), a trade group representing 25,000 United States soybean producers, today joined Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick during U.S.-China agriculture trade discussions with a senior level Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi for the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT). The meeting was held at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"On behalf of U.S. soybean farmers, I want to thank Secretary Veneman and Ambassador Zoellick for all the help they have provided to the soybean industry, and I would like to welcome representatives of the Chinese delegation," said ASA Washington Representative John Gordley. "American farmers thank the people of China for their purchases of U.S. soybeans, which have been vital to farmer profitability."

With support from the Foreign Agricultural Service and soybean farmers’ checkoff investments, ASA opened an office in China and began working with the Chinese industry 21 years ago. ASA’s mission in China has always been one of working closely with Chinese aquaculture, livestock, feed milling, and soybean processing industries to increase their production and efficiency. This work not only increased demand for soybeans, but also resulted in the production of better and more food for the Chinese people. So while U.S. soybean farmers have greatly benefited from ASA’s work, so have Chinese consumers.

On issues of policy, ASA strongly supported China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and ASA actively and successfully lobbied Congress to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. Today, China is the largest export market in the world for U.S. soybean farmers, accounting for over one-third of total U.S. exports. This marketing year alone, China has purchased over 8.2 million metric tons of soybeans, with a farm-gate value of over $2.2 billion.

U.S. soybean producers have benefited from strong market demand from China. Imports of soybeans from the U.S. allow China to keep meat and vegetable oil supplied and prices under control for Chinese consumers. As ASA’s work in China has created additional demand in China from the livestock and aquaculture industries, Chinese soybean producers also have benefited from this additional demand building.

"The soybean success story that the United States and China have to tell is truly a win-win story," Gordley said. "We have proven that everyone prospers when governments and industries on both sides of the Pacific work together, and ASA is proud of the role it has played in helping feed the Chinese people."