U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2009)

Office of the United States Trade Representative

Ambassador Kirk Concludes the 20th Session of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade

10/29/2009 4:31pm

Today Ambassador Kirk, Secretary Locke and Secretary Vilsack completed trade and economic dialogues at the 20th Session of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Hangzhou, China. The JCCT was co-chaired by Ambassador Kirk and Secretary Locke as well as Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joined as well.

Key progress made at the 2009 JCCT meeting included the commitment by China to reopen their market to U.S. pork and live swine. In 2008, China was the U.S. pork industry's fastest growing market, accounting for $560 million in U.S. exports. China also committed to remove barriers to allow U.S. and foreign companies to access China's growing clean energy market, to re-energize its commitment to open up its government procurement process and to clamp down on Internet piracy.

The United States and China also signed nine agreements, covering areas such as aviation, energy, environment, high technology trade, investment promotion, statistics, and travel and tourism, and witnessed two commercial signings. The two governments also agreed to cooperate on initiatives in the areas of the environment, transparency, global distribution services, dietary supplements, and standards.

China is America's second largest trading partner and is a fast growing market for American exporters. The JCCT, established in 1983, is the main forum for addressing bilateral trade matters and promoting commercial opportunities between the United States and China.