INTERVIEW: Governor Terry Branstad (recorded January 26,2017)
Late Monday afternoon, the senate confirmed Governor Terry Branstad as Ambassador to China on an 82 to 13 vote. He is expected to resign his post as governor and be sworn in as ambassador as early as Wednesday.
?I want to thank President Trump and Vice President Pence for nominating me to be the United States Ambassador to the People?s Republic of China. I also want to thank Chairman Corker, Ranking Member Cardin, and the United States Senate for the confidence they have placed in me,” Branstad said.
Branstad went on to say, “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that a boy from a small farm in Leland, Iowa, would one day have the opportunity to represent my country and my state on the world stage, working closely with one of the world?s most influential countries and one of America?s largest trading partners.”
The governor is confident the state is in good hands with Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.
?I want to congratulate Gov. Branstad on receiving overwhelming support to become the next U.S. Ambassador to the People?s Republic of China. For over 22 years, Iowans have had a man with a servant heart working tirelessly on their behalf and for a state he loves dearly,” Reynolds said.
Many national and local farm groups also praised Branstad’s senate confirmation.
“Ambassador Branstad has been a great friend to Iowa cattlemen and the agriculture industry as Governor of Iowa. He has shown a great commitment to the growth of beef and other agricultural exports, and we look forward to the work he will do on behalf of all Americans in his new capacity as Ambassador to China,” Iowa Cattlemen’s President Mike Cline said.
?As the six-term governor of a state with more than $10 billion in annual agricultural exports, Terry Branstad is an ideal person to help facilitate the U.S. beef industry?s return to the Chinese market for the first time in 13-plus years,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Craig Uden said.
Ambassador Branstad said he intends to serve American-raised beef at the U.S. embassy in Beijing.
“I want to thank Gov. Branstad for his service to our great state as governor and I wish him all the best and look forward to continuing to work with him in this new and important role,? Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said.
?We congratulate Ambassador Branstad on his confirmation and look forward to a great champion for ethanol to serve in this role,” CEO of Growth Energy, Emily Skor said. “This will hopefully be an important first step to re-opening the Chinese marketplace to American ethanol and distiller?s grains (DDGs).”
American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Illinois farmer Ron Moore expressed congratulations and support, citing Branstad?s extensive experience working with China and the importance of the market for U.S. soybean farmers.
?We cannot understate the importance of maintaining a good trading relationship with China, along with all of our top exporting countries, and having Gov. Branstad in place will help ensure that agricultural trade remains a top priority between our two countries,? Moore said.
Branstad looks forward to working with President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping for “the mutual benefit of both of our countries and the rest of the world.”
