Baucus, Grassley request study on U.S., China trade barriers

Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), have sent a letter to the U.S. International Trade Commission requesting a study on the effects of trade barriers on the nation's agricultural exports to China in an effort to get more American goods into the country.

In the letter to ITC Chairman Shara Aranoff, the senators asked for a report on the effects of any tariff or non-tariff barriers between 2004 and 2009 on U.S. agricultural exports, arguing that the U.S. faces "unjustified restrictions in the Chinese market" They asked for a report within the next year. 

"China has become a major market for American agricultural exports, "Grassley said. "But the potential is there for China to become an even bigger market for these products."

Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, noted that the United States is the world's top exporter of wheat and beef and removing trade barriers could create much-needed jobs. Baucus and Grassley said their states would benefit from an increase in agricultural exports. 

They've asked for the report to include information on China's participation in global agricultural markets, specifically teh Asia-Pacific region; competitive factors affecting China's agricultural sector including technology, domestic support and pricing and market regimes. recent trends in China's market and the economic effects of an any tariff and non-tariff measures.