This panel is charged with overseeing the federal tax system, along with examining ways to simplify the income tax code. The joint committee is comprised of ten senior members of the Finance and Ways and Means committees. In his official role as a congressional advisor on trade policy, Grassley said he will continue to press the People's Republic of China about its virtual exclusion of U.S. pork from the Chinese market. Although China agreed to a one-year trial program to import U.S. pork for the Chinese retail market, only token amounts of U.S. pork have reached Chinese consumers under this trial project. Earlier this month, Grassley wrote a letter to the Chinese ambassador to the United States, urging China to allow purchases of U.S. pork.
China represents the biggest market in the world.
During the last several years, Grassley has been a leader on Capitol Hill working to break down non-tariff trade barriers and reduce export subsidies in other countries. He has exercised aggressive oversight of administration efforts to break down EU resistance to Bt corn and meat exported from the United States, for example, and he introduced bi-partisan legislation to require the U.S. government to retaliate against trading partners when they do not live up to agreements. Grassley has been an outspoken advocate for fast-track trade negotiating authority for the president. Last year, Grassley organized a bi-partisan effort with Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska to revitalize interest in trade issues in Congress. From Capitol Hill, Grassley has pro-actively monitored the progress of the U.S. Trade Representative in preparing for the 1999 agricultural talks.