MANHATTAN – Congressman Tim Huelskamp discussed trade issues and opportunities between the United States and Taiwan last Thursday with Jack J.C. Yang, director general of the Taiwan Consulate in Kansas City. Rep. Huelskamp (R-KS) also participated in a roundtable discussion with Yang and members from the Kansas Grain & Feed Association, Kansas Pork Association, Kansas Cooperative Council, and Seaboard Foods.
Following the meeting and roundtable discussion, Huelskamp along with Yang toured the Manhattan Elevator facility of the Mid Kansas Cooperative Association.
“One of my unwritten duties as the Congressman for the Big First — and a Kansas farmer — is to serve as an Ambassador for Kansas agriculture,” Huelskamp said in a statement. “So I consider it always an honor to meet with representatives from countries who purchase our agriculture exports. Today, Director General Yang of Taiwan, Kansas producers, co-ops, exports, retailers and I discussed our Kansan commitment to the safety and quality of our farm products. The Director General expressed his high regards and understanding of our efforts. With meetings like this to highlight our producers and their products, I believe we have an opportunity to develop even stronger ties with Taiwan. I look forward to continued and deepening agriculture relations between Kansas and Taiwan.”
Huelskamp said he is excited about the prospects for growing the markets for Kansas products in other parts of Asia, including in Vietnam and Japan. In August 2011, he hosted the Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States for a visit to Washington County, Kan.
During the visit, the ambassador and Huelskamp toured a pig farm and a processing facility. In April 2013 he met with Japanese Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, thanking him for his government’s decision to open their country’s market to more Kansas beef and agreeing to improve the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Huelskamp notes he was also a leader in successful completion of trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia that opened the door to millions more in exports for Kansas agriculture.
Congressman Huelskamp serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the Small Business Committee, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy & Trade, the Subcommittee on Health & Technology, and the Subcommittee on Contracting & Workforce.