This exceeds an entire year's wheat production in North Dakota, currently the nation's number one wheat producing state. Additionally, tariffs would drop significantly for construction equipment, heavy machinery and agriculture equipment. Tariffs would fall an average of 60 percent for all manufactured products and would be eliminated for information technology products. Chinese people are beginning to enjoy the benefits of a market driven economy with more disposable income and greater purchasing options. We must ensure space for quality North Dakota products in stores and markets throughout this nation.
Figures prove that China is one of the fastest growing export markets for North Dakota.
The state's exports to China between 1993 and 1998 surged 568 percent. China is currently North Dakota's 12th largest export destination. The government's target for this year's grain production is 490 million tons, which should be enough to go around, according to Xu Xiaoqing, deputy chief of the Rural Department of the Development Research Center of the State Council. Xu estimated a minimum harvest of 480 million tons would meet the country's basic needs, reports Economic Information Daily. The report stipulated that the reforestation scheme would not cause any grain shortages.