U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to Convene 25th Session of U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will host a high-level Government of China delegation for the 25^th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), December 16-18, in Chicago, Illinois. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will also take part in the dialogue to address key agricultural trade issues between the two countries.

“Expanding the U.S.-China bilateral trade relationship is critical to strengthening our nation’s economy and supporting job creation in communities from Maine to Hawaii,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker "The JCCT has played a vital role in our efforts to bolster this mutually beneficial relationship for more than two decades. These upcoming high-level discussions will culminate a year of continuous work to address important issues facing our two nations, and reinforces President Obama’s commitment to increased trade within the Asia-Pacific region.”

“This dialogue comes at an important time for the two largest economies in the world who share an enormous stake in the global trade and investment system,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. “The JCCT continues to be a place where the bilateral ties that link the U.S. and China are reinforced through cooperation and constructive, face-to-face discussions focused on making concrete progress to address the challenges we face. Secretary Pritzker and I are looking forward to hosting the Chinese delegation this year in Chicago, a city that made its name as a dynamic trade center where east meets west.”

Established in 1983, the JCCT is the primary forum for addressing bilateral trade and investment issues and promoting commercial opportunities between the United States and China. High-level plenary meetings are held annually and are co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, and the Chinese Vice Premier in charge of trade and investment issues. Sixteen JCCT Working Groups meet throughout the year to address topics such as intellectual property rights, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, information technology, and travel and tourism.

The 24^th Annual JCCT meeting was held in Beijing, China on December 19-20, 2013. At those meetings, significant progress was made on several important issues, including protection and enforcement against theft of trade secrets, government procurement, market access for U.S. testing and certification companies, and market access for American beef. 

China was the third-largest market for U.S. exports in 2013 (after Canada and Mexico). U.S. goods exports to China were $122 billion in 2013 up 652 percent since 2000. Trade in services with China (exports and imports) totaled $52.1 billion in 2013.