The outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus in China has spawned talk of whether China can meet its purchases of U.S. ag goods under the Phase One agreement signed January 15.
As for how high the focus is, the issue came up while USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue held a telephone briefing with reporters from Italy to provide an update on his discussions this week with European Union (EU) officials.
Asked of the China coronavirus situation could impact the commodity purchase commitments, Perdue said, “We don’t really know that yet. We would love and pray for a very quick resolution and conclusion to the coronavirus outbreak.”
Coronavirus is “obviously going to have some ramifications economy wide, which we hope will not inhibit the purchase goal that we have for this year,” he concluded.
The focus on this issue is coming via the following provision in the language of the Phase One trade agreement signed Jan. 15: “In the event that a natural disaster or other unforeseeable event outside the control of the Parties delays a Party from timely complying with its obligations under this Agreement, the Parties shall consult with each other.” Perdue did not say whether any such consultations have been requested on the part of China.
Welcome
