Earlier this spring, USDA Undersecretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Michael Scuse led the largest trade team to China that USDA has ever hosted. While on that trade mission, 77 US companies participated in a food show in Beijing. Scuse says that only good things came out of the US participation in that show:
“We took thirty nine companies from across the US, as well as seven state departments of agriculture. For the first time we had a United States pavilion at that trade show. It was very impressive and very well received. We got a great response from the buyers as well as the US companies.”
Scuse feels that trade mission went a long way to opening some doors with the Chinese, furthering a profitable relationship:
“We are looking to build a lot of strong relationships. Secretary Vilsack along with other officials hosted the symposium in Iowa that also helped to cultivate these strong relationships. We had one China’s Vice Ministers here recently and have extended other invitations to visit additional farms.”
Recently, United States Trade Representative, Ron Kirk announced that he would be leaving the administration at the end of the year, no matter the outcome of the November election. Scuse says it will be a loss, particularly for USDA:
“Ambassador Kirk has done a wonderful job. Because of his leadership and Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, the USTR has flourished and the two teams, USDA and USTR, have worked better together than they have ever worked before.”
Scuse feels that the work that Kirk has done as far as working closely with USDA will continue after his departure:
“The Ambassador has set up the USTR to work with us and that we need to work together for the good of agriculture.”
USDA Undersecretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Michael Scuse
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