Reps. Mann, Finstad, Sens. Marshall, Hagerty Lead Effort Against China's Growing Influence in Food and Agriculture
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Brad Finstad (MN-01), alongside Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), led their colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to President Biden, urging him to reject a proposal before the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Council, which would alter governance and leadership arrangements at FAO, strengthen China’s position, and weaken American agricultural leadership on the world stage.
If adopted, the new governance would extend the Director-General’s current maximum tenure from eight years to a decade, increase the Director-General’s already $300,000 annual salary and allowance, and exert more control over the U.S.-led World Food Programme. The Members expressed their concerns that adoption of the proposal would expand China’s influence in the organization and advance foreign policy goals that pose a threat to the United States.
“When as many as 700 million people face hunger globally and manmade global conflicts are on the rise, this proposal de-emphasizes any of FAO’s successful efforts to achieve food security and allows China to expand its global influence by taking advantage of America as it transitions political administrations,” the Members wrote. “America cannot afford to sit idly by – even in a time of political transition – while China positions itself to expand its influence over a body to which our nation belongs. We urge you to reject any proposal that could undermine efficiency in food and agriculture-related organizations, strengthen China’s position, or weaken America’s leadership on the world stage.”
The Members concluded, “We urge you to position American farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural producers as the global leader in food and agriculture and to represent our country’s production and ideals across the globe.”
Reps. Mann and Finstad and Sens. Marshall and Hagerty were joined on the letter by Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP John Moolenaar (MI-02), and Reps. Austin Scott (GA-08), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), David Rouzer (NC-07), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Mary Miller (IL-15), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Trent Kelly (MS-01), and Mark Alford (MO-04).
Full text of the letter can be found here or below.
Dear President Biden –
We write regarding a recent proposal before the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s Council, which would alter governance and leadership arrangements at the Food and Agriculture Organization, strengthen the People’s Republic of China’s position, and weaken American agricultural leadership on the world stage.
Last month, following the election of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States, Qu Dongyu, former People’s Republic of China (China) vice minister and current Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) submitted a proposal[1] to the FAO Council.[2][3] The proposal would extend the Director-General’s current maximum tenure from eight years to a decade, increase the Director-General’s $300,000 annual salary and allowance, and exert more control over the traditionally U.S.-led World Food Programme. When as many as 700 million people face hunger globally[4]and manmade global conflicts are on the rise,[5] this proposal de-emphasizes any of FAO’s successful efforts to achieve food security[6] and allows China to expand its global influence by taking advantage of America as it transitions political administrations.
Let us be clear, the nationality of any FAO Director-General alone is not of concern; rather, our concern remains with policy initiatives[7]and personnel appointments[8] which could advance foreign policy goals which pose a threat to America. Since 2019, China’s involvement in FAO has eclipsed several United Nations’ policy goals with initiatives which serve China’s foreign policy agenda.[9] Additionally, the number of Chinese appointees to high-level divisions at FAO has nearly doubled, including to areas which China and the United States have conflicting policy positions.[10]
While we understand that this week’s FAO Council could not reach an agreement on this specific proposal and forwarded it to a state of informal consultation, we remain concerned that it or other proposed reforms like it could advance to the next Council, comprised of 49 member states, including the United States, and then to the Plenary Conference in July 2025, where all 195 members could consider the proposal.
America cannot afford to sit idly by – even in a time of political transition – while China positions itself to expand its influence over a body to which our nation belongs. We urge you to reject any proposal that could undermine efficiency in food and agriculture-related organizations, strengthen China’s position, or weaken America’s leadership on the world stage. Further, we urge you to position American farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural producers as the global leader in food and agriculture and to represent our country’s production and ideals across the globe.
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