Officials try to soothe tensions with China

Obama administration officials on Friday praised House appropriators for allowing the U.S. to import poultry from China.

The comments suggest the U.S. officials hope the move will ease tensions with China on trade in the wake of President Barack Obama's announcement that steep tariffs would be imposed on imports of Chinese tires.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the appropriators had maintained "America's leadership in the rules-based global trading system" in making their decision.

Lawmakers on a spending sub-panel for agriculture agreed to a rule that will allow funds to be spent on importing poultry products from China after the Secretary of Agriculture notifies Congress that certain conditions are met.

Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack singled out Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) for praise.

(The full joint statement follows the jump.)

Washington, D.C. ­ -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk today commended conferees on the agriculture appropriations bill ­ led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, on text slated for the FY 2010 agriculture appropriations conference report regarding the use of appropriated funds by USDA with respect to potential imports of poultry products from China. The conference agreement would allow USDA to use appropriated funds in FY 2010 to promulgate or implement a rule allowing imports of processed poultry or poultry products from China only after the Secretary of Agriculture notifies Congress that certain conditions have been met. (For a full description, visit the House Appropriations website here .)

USDA worked with Rep. DeLauro to craft the final language, which ensures the protection of the nation's food supply in a manner consistent with scientific principles as required under U.S. international obligations. This result reflects the hard work and commitment of the Administration, Rep. De Lauro, Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), and all House and Senate conferees.

"We commend the conferees for reaching an agreement that protects food safety and public health in a manner consistent with our international obligations," said Secretary Vilsack. "The agreement reached by the conferees will maintain the safety of our food supply and ensure that America takes a leadership role in supporting a science and rules-based trading system."

"We are pleased that the conferees were able to reach agreement on language that provides a strong means to address food safety concerns while recognizing the need to base health measures on scientific principles," said Ambassador Kirk. "The conferees have acted in Americans' best interests in two ways: by insisting on the safety of our food supply, and also by maintaining America's leadership in the rules-based global trading system."

Under U.S. law, poultry and poultry products may not be imported from any foreign country unless USDA determines that the food safety standards, facilities, and conditions of that country achieve a level of sanitary protection equivalent to that achieved by U.S. standards. If USDA determines that a country achieves this level of protection for some or all poultry products, it issues a rule permitting import of such products, subject to border inspection and other requirements.