Why Establish Agricultural & Natural Resources Programs with China?
The U.S. and China have been trading partners ever since Gerald Ford opened relations with China during his tenure as U.S. President. Under President Bill Clinton, China was granted “favored nation status,” which opened up an economic trading engine between the two nations. It is particularly important for China and the U.S. to conduct agricultural and natural resources programs jointly. Agricultural challenges and production problems in China affect the quality of food products produced both for China’s own domestic consumption and for world trade, including food products shipped to U.S. markets. At the same time, China’s immense natural resources must be managed wisely and sustainably to ensure China’s own food security now and into the future. Also, there are opportunities for “niche markets” and specialty products for global trade, both from China to the U.S. and from the U.S. to China. As one example of specalty products, China’s expertise in herbal medicine has been recognized fo
