2017年CRI Idaho farmers hope to export fresh potatoes to China

 

Idaho provides one-third of all of the potatoes in the US. Given that China is its 4th largest export market, local farmers are expecting a more favorable trade relationship to be built between the two countries.

Second-generation potato farmer Doug Gross shows how his farm plants potato seeds, which are actually two-ounce pieces of potato.

"We have a rich volcanic¹ soil, we have a great climate with warm days and cool nights throughout the summer that just work perfectly² for potatoes. I don't think there's any doubt they are the best in the world," said Gross.

Gross Farms is a mid-size operation that produces about 20 million kilograms of potatoes a year. About 10% will be sold fresh, while the other 90% will made into French fries.

While China is the second largest export market for Idaho's French fries, fresh potatoes are not allowed to be exported to China. Therefore, farmers like Gross are increasingly eyeing the Chinese market for their agricultural products, often referred to as 'ag' by the locals.

"For us in Idaho, since we only have a million-and-a-half people that live here, much of our 'ag' production has to be shipped elsewhere. So any market, especially the Chinese market - where it's a developing market - the middle income is rising, we see that as a great consumer," said Gross.

To the surprise of many, computer chips are even bigger than potato chips here. Semiconductors³ and industrial equipment make up nearly 86% of Idaho's exports to China.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter⁴ remarked on Chinese companies in his state.

"I'd like to see Idaho companies stay Idaho companies. But as the governor of the state I'm not gonna do anything to interrupt those peaceful and equal negotiations⁵ between willing buyers and willing sellers. That's not my place. But it wouldn't surprise me that good aggressive Chinese companies or good aggressive companies in any country wouldn't be taking a look-in," said Otter.

Expanding cooperation at the local level is one of the subjects brought forward by Chinese Premier⁶ Li Keqiang when he met with the first delegation⁷ to China from the new U.S. congress on Monday in Beijing.

The Chinese Premier also said China is willing to work with the United States to make progress on a bilateral⁸ investment treaty.

The US delegation includes senators Steve Daines, John A. Barrasso, Rob Portman, John Neely Kennedy and congressmen Chris Stewart and Brad Wenstrup.

Their visit to Beijing comes just days after the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump⁹ in Florida, a meeting that set the tone for the progression of bilateral relations.

The U.S. delegation said congress will strengthen its relations with China and expects more lawmakers to visit China and contribute to mutually beneficial cooperation.

1 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

3 semiconductors   

n.半导体( semiconductor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Crystals may be insulators, semiconductors, or conductors. 晶体可以是绝缘体，半导体，或导体。 来自辞典例句
• Semiconductors containing such impurities are called p-type semiconductors. 含有这类杂质的半导体叫做P型半导体。 来自辞典例句

4 otter   

n.水獭

参考例句：

• The economists say the competition otter to the brink of extinction.经济学家们说，竞争把海獭推到了灭绝的边缘。
• She collared my black wool coat with otter pelts.她把我的黑呢上衣镶上了水獭领。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

7 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

8 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

9 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。