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U.S. ambassador to China stepping down

U.S. ambassador to China stepping down

President-elect Trump appointed Terry Branstad to the position in 2016

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The American representative in one of U.S. ag’s most important export destinations is leaving his post.

“U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Terry Branstad will retire from his position as U.S. envoy and depart Beijing in early October,” the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in China said in a Sept. 14 release. “The Ambassador confirmed his decision to President Trump by phone last week.”

It appears Branstad is leaving China to help the president with his re-election bid.

He “is coming home from China because he wants to campaign,” President Trump said during a call with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.

President Trump nominated Branstad, the former governor of Iowa, for the position in December 2016. The Senate confirmed the position in 2017.

Branstad’s existing relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping played a factor in Trump’s decision to choose him as the U.S. representative in the country.

The two started to conduct business with one another in the 1980s. At the time, Jinping, a young county official, was looking for closer ties with Iowa’s ag sector.

"Governor Branstad's decades of experience in public service and long-time relationship with President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders make him the ideal choice to serve as America's Ambassador to China," President-elect Trump said in a Dec. 2019 statement. "He successfully developed close trade ties with China while serving as chief executive of the Hawkeye State. That experience will serve him well as he represents America's interests and further develops a mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese leadership."

During his time as ambassador, Branstad worked on multiple files.

He helped develop the Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries and helped reduce the flow of Chinese fentanyl into the U.S.

Industry groups thanked Branstad for his work and highlighted some of his ag successes.

“Under Ambassador Branstad’s tenure, the U.S. and China agreed to a Phase 1 trade agreement that includes $40 billion in agricultural purchases, including pork, by far the most significant protein consumed in China,” Rachel Gantz, director of communications for the National Pork Producers Council, told Farms.com in an emailed statement.

“We appreciate Ambassador Branstad’s efforts to help ensure a U.S.-China trade deal and look forward to China meeting its Phase 1 commitments.”

African swine fever has damaged China’s pork industry resulting in food price inflations. The U.S. is positioned well to meet China’s pork needs, Gantz added.

The soybean industry also appreciates Branstad’s work in China.

"On behalf of the U.S. soy family, I want to thank U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad for his service and the work he has done," Monte Peterson, a soybean grower and member of the U.S. Soybean Export Council and American Soybean Association, told Farms.com.

"We recognize that during his time as ambassador, trade tensions between the U.S. and China have been at their highest, making his job very difficult. Despite this, one of the things I admire most about his service has been his accessbility. He was always interested in hearing from farmers and was a great advocate for U.S. agriculture in a critical market."


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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