The U.S. share of global agricultural trade also increased. To be sure, it is the agricultural community itself and not policy makers in Washington who deserve much of the credit for this success. While policy efforts have created the opportunity for America's farmers and ranchers to compete and win in world markets, it is the vibrancy and innovativeness of America's producers and processors, and the investments American agriculture has made in technology, research, and export promotion that have turned opportunity into real export success. Of course, many policy challenges remain to be resolved. I'm sure this Committee is keenly aware of the importance of the China market for U.S. agriculture, particularly for bulk commodities like wheat, cotton, and soybeans.
China is also a growing market for hides and skins and our second largest export market for poultry.