Vice Minister Niu Dun Meets with President and CEO of Tyson Foods, Inc.

Source: MOA Department of International Cooperation

April 27-Vice Minister Niu Dun met with Mr. Donnie Smith, President and CEO of Tyson Foods, Inc., to exchange opinions on fostering cooperation.

The Vice Minister said that the rapid expansion of Tyson Foods business in China had provided experience for the Chinese side to draw upon, particularly in the field of poultry production. He suggested that the company give full play to its advantages in fund and technology for better growth in China in the form of joint-venture, transfer new breeds and technologies to China, and elevate the training for Chinese staff and farmers. The Vice Minister also expressed his appreciation to Tyson Foods for its position against the US Congress relevant clauses to restrict the import of Chinese poultry meat.

However, the Vice Minister explicitly opposed the proposition of Tyson Foods that China should remove the anti-dumping tax on broilers imported from the US, stressing that agricultural trade between China and the US was suffering from severe imbalances: China s poultry meat, aquatic products and horticultural products were facing many irrational restrictions in the US market, which was a typical sign of trade protectionism that had not been solved properly, and; China s restriction on the import of poultry meat from the State of Virginia was the result of delayed delivery of the strains of low pathogenic avian influenza virus by the US. He hoped that Tyson Foods could use its influence to promote the early solution of the issues.

Mr. Smith said that he would communicate with the US Department of Agriculture for early and effective solution of relevant issues. The company was willing to bring new technologies to China in future cooperation and contribute to China s modern agriculture.

Date: 08:59 4 May 2010