U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined a bipartisan group of 39 Senators led by Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., in sending a letter urging President Trump to raise the critical issue of U.S. beef access to Chinese markets when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on today.

China has recently become the fastest growing beef market in the world, but U.S. producers have not had the opportunity to access this market since 2003. Kansas ranks third in exports of U.S. beef to the global market.

“Opening this market to U.S. producers would create substantial opportunities for ranchers across the country, as China has an import market in excess of $2.5 billion and is the second largest importer of beef in the world,” the Senators write. “As 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside of the U.S., expanding access for U.S. beef into China and elsewhere is critical for the long-term growth of the agricultural economy and communities across the U.S. The current environment of low commodity prices further emphasizes the significance of trade to U.S. ranchers and the beef industry overall.”