Hearing on Chinese Seafood: Safety and Trade Issues 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2008

Website: www.uscc.gov

Contacts:    Kathy Michels (202) 624-1409

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                    Nick Barone (202) 624-1484

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The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday and Friday, April 24 -25, 2008 on “Chinese Seafood: Safety and Trade Issues.” The hearing will be held at the Pan American Conference and Media Center in the Orleans Room, 11th Floor, of the Pan American Building, located at 601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.
 
This hearing will examine how the rise in Chinese seafood has affected the U.S. Gulf Coast seafood industry. The hearing will consider the economic impacts on the U.S. fishing industry of imported seafood from China and the resulting health and safety risks associated with Chinese seafood imports.  The hearing will also focus on how such factors affect U.S.companies, investors, and workers.
 
On April 24, the Commission will receive testimony from witnesses including Mr. Donald W. Kraemer, Deputy Director of the FDA Office of Food Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mr. Spencer Garrett, Director of the NOAA National Seafood Inspection Laboratory, and Mr. Matt Fass, President, Maritime Products International and representatives of the U.S. fishing industry, and consumer and environmental groups.  An open microphone session for public comment will be held from 3:15 to 3:45 pm.  Interested parties may register at 8:30 am in the hearing room to reserve a time to speak.
 
On April 25, the Commission will receive testimony from Senator David Vitter, members of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and U.S. seafood industries. Other expert witnesses from the industry and from academia will also testify.
 
Hearing Co Chairs:  Vice-Chairman Carolyn Bartholomew and Commissioner Daniel Slane
 
What:     Public Hearing on “Chinese Seafood: Safety and Trade Issues”
When:    Thursday, April 24, 2008, 9:00am. – 3:45pm. and Friday, April 25, 2008, 8:30am. – 1:30pm
Where:  Orleans Room, 11th Floor, Pan American Bldg., Pan American Conference and Media
               Center, 601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.           
 
A full agenda will be posted to the Commission’s Web Site as soon as it is available.  Panelists’ bios and written statements will be available on the Commission’s Web Site at www.uscc.gov on Thursday, April 24, 2008
 
Reservations are not required to attend – seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
Visit the USCC website, www.uscc.gov, for transcripts of previous hearings, commissioned research reports, the Commission’s annual reports to the Congress, and other information about the Commission’s activities.
 
 
 

 
As of April 15, 2008 – This agenda is subject to change – as changes occur a revised agenda will be posted to the Commission’s Web Site www.uscc.gov
 
Day One:  Thursday, April 24, 2008
 
Health and Safety Issues Concerning Imported Chinese Seafood
 
9:00 a – 10:30 a   Panel I:  Gov't Perspectives on Health/Safety of Seafood Imported from China
·                     Mr. Donald W. Kraemer, Deputy Director, Office of Food Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, Washington, DC
·                     Mr. Spencer Garrett, Director, NOAA National Seafood Inspection Laboratory,Pascagoula, MS
 
10:45 a – 12:15 p Panel II:  Experts’ Perspectives on Health/Safety of Seafood Imported from China
·         Ms. Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives, Consumer Union, Yonkers, NY
·         Mr. Patrick Woodall, Policy Analyst, Food and Water Watch, Washington, DC
 
12:15 p – 1:15 p   Lunch Break
 
1:15 p – 3:00 p    Panel III:  Seafood Industry’s Perspectives on Health/Safety of Seafood Imported from China
·         Ms. Kim Chauvin, Owner, Mariah Jade Shrimp Company, Chauvin, LA
·         Mr. Matt Fass, President, Maritime Products International, Newport News, VA
 
3:15 p – 3:45 p    Panel IV:   Public Comment Period – Open Microphone
                                                5 minutes per participant
 
 
Day Two:  Friday, April 25, 2008
 
Perspectives of Federal, State, and Local Elected Officials on Health/Safety and Economic Implications of Chinese Seafood Imports for the United States
 
8:30 a – 10:00 a    Panel V:  Views and Plans of Government Officials
 
·         Mr. Harlon H. Pearce, Jr., Chairman, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, New Orleans, LA
·         Senator David Vitter, LA (R)
 
 
Effects of Chinese Seafood Imports on the Louisiana and U.S. Economies
 
10:15 a – 11:45 a   Panel VI:  The Effects of China’s Competition, Pricing, and Delivery Capability on the U.S.Seafood Industry
 
·                     Mr. Steven Minvielle, Crawfish Farmer and Member of Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association, New Iberia, LA
·                     Mr. John Williams, President, Southern Shrimp Alliance, Tarpon Springs, FL
·                     Dr. Carole Engle, director, Aquaculture Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR
 
 
12:00 p —1:30 p    Panel VII:  China’s Adherence to Multilateral and Bilateral Trade Agreements in Supplying Seafood to the U.S. Market. Case Study.
 
·                     Dr. Walter Keithly, Professor, Center for Natural Resource Economics and Policy,Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
·                     Mr. Schuyler Porche, Doctoral Student, Louisiana State University, Dept. of Political Science, Baton Rouge, LA