California agriculture chief voices concern about US-China trade dispute

LOS ANGELES - California Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross has said that the Golden State's agriculture exports to China is important, voicing concern about fallout from the trade dispute between the United States and China.

Ross, who is a former chief of staff for then-US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, made these remarks at a media event hosted by the interest group Farmers for Free Trade at a winery, 620 km north to Los Angeles.

California is the largest agricultural producer and exporter in the nation, Ross was quoted by the Western FarmPress on Friday as saying, adding that about $20 billion in California's $46 billion in farm gate receipts "goes to ports and onto trucks" and employs many people in the shipping industry.

China has become the third biggest destination for California agricultural products behind the European Union and Canada, Ross said.

However, the China market is facing big challenges as China announced retaliatory tariffs on US agriculture commodities early this month in response to the Trump administration's duty proposals on imported Chinese goods.

The retaliation will impact some of the state's top agricultural exports, including almonds, wine, dairy, walnuts and pistachios and others.

Ross revealed that she has met earlier this week with Ted McKinney, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, to voice concerns.

"California has been very successful at growing new markets," she said, noting the state's Mediterranean climate makes it uniquely suitable for all sorts of crops. "Being able to make bilateral and multilateral trade agreements is critical to us."

Meanwhile, Rob Neenan, president and chief executive officer of the California League of Food Processors, said that he would prefer the administration work through the World Trade Organization to resolve disputes "rather than risk a global unwinnable trade war."

LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards' Aaron Lange, who hosted Thursday's event, said that the 15 percent additional tariff on wine has already resulted in one order being cancelled and another being put on hold while price negotiations occur.

"This hurts California's ability to compete with other nations," Lange said, urging a quick solution to the trade dispute.