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Branstad, Ricketts say China needs accountability on trade

Former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad says the Biden administration needs to hold China accountable on trade.

“We don’t want the administration to trade off the progress we’ve made on trade in order to have the Chinese make some promise on global climate change, which they won’t fulfill,” Branstad says. “We’re concerned that they have a history of not fulfilling promises.”

Branstad says America’s farmers and ranchers greatly benefit from a strong relationship with the Chinese. “They have a growing middle class.  They have demand for more protein and for a more safe and reliable food supply and America is the best in the world at producing that.”

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts agrees with Branstad adding, “I would hope the Biden administration would continue the same policy of competition and accountability rather than engagement previous to the Trump administration.

Branstad says it’s too early to determine the effects of any changes on trade and it could take several months to find out.

Both Branstad and Ricketts made their remarks to reporters on Wednesday at the Nebraska Ag and Economic Summit in Kearney.