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MO governor to lead trade mission to China

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is leading a Missouri trade mission to China on Friday with the intention of establishing ties with Chinese leaders and to sign a multi-billion dollar export deal. Missouri Pork Producers executive director Don Nikodim – who will be on the trip – says there are many opportunities for ag exports to China.

“We think there’s a tremendous amount of opportunity ahead of us,” Nikodim tells Brownfield, “I mean, China’s a very large country with a very rapidly growing middle class and upper class that have a lot of resources.”

Missouri pork exports to China rebounded this year after the H1N1 outbreak which affected exports in 2009 and ’10. U.S. beef exports to China, however, are another story. Missouri Chamber of Commerce president Dan Mehan says when the U.S. and Chinese governments come to agreement over our beef and their chicken, Missouri wants to be ready.

“We want to be sitting on their doorstep,” says Mehan, “And that’s the whole purpose of continuing to beat that drum and make sure that they understand that Missouri beef is quality product. And, as the largest middle class in the middle of the planet starts enjoying more and more higher priced items, Missouri beef should be one of them.”

China still has a ban on U.S. beef imports after one cow in Washington State was found to have BSE in 2003.

Representatives from the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Corn Growers will also be on the trip.

China is Missouri’s third-largest export market with more than 770-Million dollars worth of goods exported so far this year including corn, soybeans, chemicals, and steel. The Missouri trade mission is from October 21st through the 29th.

~Missourinet contributed to this report~

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