Sens. Grassley, Ernst Ask Biden to Negotiate Further Ag Purchases With China
Iowa Republican senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are asking the Biden administration to complete free trade agreements in Asia, or rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as China expands its influence through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). They wrote Jan. 25: "Initially, your administration stated they were content with focusing on your domestic agenda before they consider negotiating new free trade agreements. However, a year later, it is clear that your domestic agenda has been stalled while China is taking serious action to expand their foothold in the region."
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They also asked the administration to seek another agreement with China that includes purchase targets for American agricultural exports. "While it is true that China failed to live up to their agriculture purchases from the Phase One agreement, the purchases they did make surpassed agriculture exports in 2017. This resulted in a record $172.2 billion in agriculture exports in 2021, and in turn measurable increases in commodity prices for Iowa farmers," they said.