Despite hiccups, Oregon's trade ties with China remain strong

The largest processor and marketer of hazelnuts in the United States says the industry is feeling the pinch of the US-China trade standoff.

"It's really hurting farmers here, and it's breaking down long-term relationships between us and China, and our customers there, so we are being forced to look to other places for customers, and, honestly, the relationships we have with the Chinese buyers are so important," Larry George, president of George Packing Company Hazelnuts, the largest processor and marketer of hazelnuts in the US, told China Daily.

Oregon's hazelnut growers export 60 percent of their crop, and more than 90 percent of the flavorful nuts are shipped to China.

George was one of many Chinese and US government officials and business representatives attending the ninth annual Oregon-China Economic Forum in Portland on Friday.

Despite some of the difficulties arising from the trade dispute, Oregon is one of the few US states enjoying a trade surplus with China.

"I think the Oregon-China relationship as it comes to trade is a very important one in helping to maintain sustainability, peace and success for both of our peoples," said Richard Vial, Oregon deputy secretary of state.

Vial stressed how communication transcends cultural barriers, prevents misunderstanding and fosters people-to-people exchanges.

"This is what trade does for two countries and two peoples. It brings people together in ways that allow us to get to know one another, and in the process, we come to appreciate just how much alike we really are," he said.

Mae Yih, a former member of both houses of the Oregon Legislature, who helped facilitate the Oregon-Fujian sister-state agreement, emphasized the importance of building trust and personal contacts.

"During my time in the Oregon legislature, I organized many legislative leadership, friendship and trade missions to China because I knew that personal contacts were essential in increasing understanding, friendship, trust, trade and mutual prosperity," she said.

Interdependence

Wang Donghua, Chinese consul general in San Francisco, reminded attendees of the unique economic interdependence between the US and China.

In 2018, the value of US-China trade reached $659.8 billion. Twoway investment between the two countries exceeded $230 billion at the end of last year, the consul general said.

Chinese visitors to the United States, who totaled 2.9 million in 2018, spent $36 billion traveling in the US. There are currently around 400,000 Chinese students in the US, and together they contribute around $18 billion to local economies.

"History tells us that China and the US are important partners, rather than adversaries," Wang said.

According to the US Trade Representative's Office, China is Oregon's largest export market. Oregon exported $4.8 billion in goods to China in 2018, representing 21 percent of the state's total goods exported.

Exports from the state to China jumped 52 percent from 2008 to 2017. Oregon's exports to China supported 31,200 US jobs in 2016, the US-China Business Council reported.

Although Oregon's top exports to China were electric products and computer components, it is also the US' 24th largest agricultural-exporting state, shipping $1.9 billion in agricultural products in 2017.

Some cattle farmers in the Northwest state also expressed their desire in accessing the Chinese market.

"We work with the US Meat Export Federation, the Oregon Department of Agriculture and others to assist with export-market access and development for Oregon and US beef. So I have been interested in the China market, and it is open now, so it should have long-term growth potential," said William M. Wise, chief executive officer of the Oregon Beef Council.

Contact the writers at teresaliu@chinadailyusa.com.

(China Daily 07/30/2019 page10)