Interview: China-U.S. phase-one deal bolsters Oregonian trade: local legislator

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, December 16, 2019
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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The China-U.S. agreement on the text of the phase-one economic and trade deal is good news for people in the western U.S. state of Oregon, as it will bolster Oregon's trade opportunities with China, an Oregon state lawmaker has said.

David Brock Smith, a member of the Oregon House of Representatives, told Xinhua recently in a phone interview that the latest progress in trade talks between China and the United States will help American farmers sell more products to China.

"This is very exciting news for Oregonians, especially the Oregonians that were hurt in the trade disputes," Smith said.

China and the United States have agreed on the text of the phase-one economic and trade agreement based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, according to a statement issued by the Chinese side on Friday.

"I have been working with many people to strengthen our relationships... and to push back against these trade policies that can harm our farmers and ranchers, industries within Oregon," said Smith, who is also chair of the Southern Oregon-China Connection under the non-profit Oregon China Council.

"I'm rather excited that we've come to an amicable solution," he said.

Smith commended China for its poverty-relief efforts over the recent years, noting that China has done "an amazing job" of pulling hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.

After those people have left poverty behind, they have more resources and want Oregon products, he said.

"We want to provide them with products they need, and we want to provide them at costs that they can afford," Smith said, adding that the trade disputes between the two countries was "inhibiting that from occurring."

He said that Oregon has several billions of U.S. dollars in trade with China and an increasing agricultural trade with the world's second largest economy.

After the agreement is signed, they can have opportunities to continue the dialogue, Smith said.

Accordingly, "our industries and businesses have opportunities and are able to continue the dialogue in growing our two economies and trade," he said.

A deal "benefits our two peoples and strengthens both our economies ... We need to continue to work together to break down barriers of trade," Smith said.

Recalling his recent trips to the China International Import Expo in Shanghai and other Chinese cities like Tianjin and Xiamen, Smith described the dynamic Chinese economy as experiencing "an incredible growth."

"We will be stronger across our economies ... by working together rather than against one another," he said. Enditem

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