Today, Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-08) called on the Obama Administration to stand up to China's newly increased tariffs on American poultry exports to that nation. Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced stiff new tariffs on American poultry producers exporting products to China, in a move clearly designed to deny American producers access to the vast Chinese market.

"These increased tariffs imposed on U.S. poultry products are just another case of China using unfair trade practices to exclude American businesses from access to its markets." Kissell said. "We must not let China, or any nation, bully American growers and manufacturers out of their fair chance to compete internationally. I urge the Obama Administration to act immediately to hold China accountable for this unfair and baseless retaliation on American farmers."

China announced its plan to impose up to 105.4 percent tariffs on U.S. chicken exports, claiming they were unfairly priced.

"China repeatedly seeks ways to circumvent trade laws in their never-ending attempt to manipulate and monopolize markets, and they must stop doing so if we are to continue to trade with them," said Kissell. "I will fight to protect American poultry producers to make sure they have every opportunity to export their products, and are given a fair chance to compete in international markets."