HONOLULU—China’s middle class is growing, and so is its demand for U.S. agricultural products.

“There is no question that the demand for U.S. beef and other high-value products in China is growing,” said William Westman, vice president of international trade for the American Meat Institute. “China has tremendous potential for us.”

Westman spoke Jan. 9 on how “Asia is the Present and Future of U.S. Agricultural Trade” during the 2012 American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention.

The main challenge is overcoming trade barriers that prohibit the direct export of American beef to China. Westman suggested that farmers write letters to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, encouraging him to finalize negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with China that would allow such exports.

China’s land mass is equivalent to that of the United States, but its population is four times larger.

Only 13 percent of China can be cultivated, Westman said. “They use any land they have available to grow things,” but can’t produce enough to keep up with the growing population, which is expected to increase as much as 15 percent over the next decade.

Already, Chinese protein consumption is approaching U.S. levels, Westman said.

As negotiations in the Doha Development Round are stalled, he said, it’s an opportune time for the United States to expand free trade agreements with China and other Asian countries.

Contact Kathy Dixon, VFBF communications, at 804-290-1137.