A group of 42 lawmakers sent a letter to President Obama last week urging him to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping about China’s delays in approving agricultural biotech products during his visit to the U.S. They asked President Obama to get a commitment from President Xi to move forward with the queue of biotechnology products, including those awaiting final import approvals. Iowa Soybean Association President Wayne Fredericks says the growing number of biotech crops under review in China’s Ministry of Agriculture is creating uncertainty in the market.

Fredericks says the U.S. has asked China for synchronized approval of biotech events. In fact, that was a topic of discussion with the Chinese delegation that was in Des Moines last week to purchase soybeans.

He says biotechnology is also bringing new products to the marketplace with consumer benefits and he’s hopeful that will advance the discussion with Chinese decision makers.

Fredericks says the backlog of approvals also undermines commitments made last year to bolster science-based agricultural innovation and trade.