Iowa Roundtable with Farmers to Address CCP Agricultural Tech Theft
DYSART, IOWA- Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party hosted a roundtable discussion in Dysart, Iowa, today, on the Chinese Communist Party's agricultural technology theft. The event featured remarks from Iowa farmers and a local seed dealer who spoke to the impacts of the CCP’s malign tactics to undermine the American agriculture industry.
The lawmakers and participants discussed the Chinese Communist Party's past and ongoing attempts to steal America's agricultural technology, serving as yet another example of the CCP's tentacles of espionage threatening Americans' livelihoods.
“For generations, American farmers have led the world in productivity and innovation. But now, the Chinese Communist Party wants to overtake the American farmer and is willing to steal our intellectual property, buy our farmland, and break its trade promises to do so,” said Rep. Gallagher. “Congress needs to step up its protection of U.S. agricultural technology and our farmland. We cannot allow the CCP to undermine what has always been a source of American strength - our farmers.”
“Today’s conversation has shown the impact that the CCP’s IP theft and economic espionage has on everyday Americans, like those whom we heard from today. I look forward to using the insights gained today to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to further protect American technology and ensure that foreign adversaries like the CCP do not benefit from American technology any longer," said Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi.
“The CCP has long worked to undermine American agriculture and dominate the global food supply – whether its stealing valuable seeds directly from the ground, quietly buying up our farm land, or through their deceptive trade practices. Today, Iowa farmers and ag stakeholders provided their firsthand insight into the threat the CCP poses to our food security and ag innovation, as well as vulnerabilities in the agriculture supply chain that directly impact our national security. Having the Chairman and Ranking Member in Tama County – the site of China’s most brazen ag IP theft – for this roundtable shows the Select Committee’s commitment to hearing directly from the source as we develop the right policy solutions to protect American agriculture,” said Rep. Hinson.
Click HERE for a full recording of the discussion.
Click HERE for a transcript of Chairman Gallagher's remarks.