China’s tariff rate quota (TRQ) for cotton was divided into processing trade and general trade. This division impeded Chinese buyers from freely importing cotton for domestic consumption.

Objective

Remove the legal distinction between processing trade and general trade.

Strategy

Employ direct government lobbying and educate policymakers on the positive and supplementary effects of uninhibited imports.

Employ third-party lobbying by mobilizing contacts in the US Department of Agriculture, the US Trade Representative, the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and other US agricultural organizations affected by TRQ issues.

Conduct an educational campaign directed at Chinese buyers to win support at the grassroots.

Results

The Chinese government issued an official document to eliminate this classification for TRQ.