FARGO (AP) - Government and business leaders from North Dakota say a recent trade mission to China was mostly a promotional trip but it could pay off down the road.
The 10-day trip in March led by Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring included representatives from the pea, lentil, soybean, flax and flour industries, as well as from commercial companies and investment groups.
The group met with Chinese officials and buyers at an event hosted by Michael Scuse, an acting undersecretary at the U.S. Agriculture Department. Scuse later announced that China plans to buy 8.6 million metric tons of American soybeans this year.
Todd Sinner represented a North Dakota soybean group. He says the state continues to lay the groundwork for new markets. He calls it "a work in progress."