December 04, 2003

ASA Said Chinese Soy Delegation's Visit To Chicago Rescheduled For Mid-December

A Chinese delegation's visit to Chicago, which had previously been delayed in mid-November, is now being re- scheduled for Dec. 17 and 18, officials with the American Soybean Association said Wednesday.

Paul Burke, director for ASA's Asia division, said the Chinese trade group had notified the ASA office in Beijing Tuesday of their intentions to travel to the U.S. in mid-December.

Still Burke added that the ASA office in St. Louis has yet to receive an official written confirmation for the visit and have not yet set-up any appointments.

Currently plans are to adhere to the same schedule as arranged for the previous visit in Chicago. The Chinese delegation is expected to meet with the trade Dec. 17 with a conference to be held Dec. 18.

In November, officials had said the previous trip was postponed due to visa problems. However, trade speculation was that the visit was cancelled in retaliation after the U.S. to placed import tariffs on certain Chinese textiles.

This speculation had made U.S. traders extremely nervous over future U.S. and Chinese relations. China is the primary buyer of U.S. soybeans. Currently U.S. soybeans sales to China for the 2003-04 marketing year are running more than double that of last year's pace.

The trip by the Chinese soy delegation is lined up to follow Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is expected to travel to the U.S. next week.