By Jerome A. Cohen
Here is an interesting report on the progress in the U.S.-China trade deal, China Must Import More Hemp From U.S. Under New Trade Deal. How times have changed re Chinese and American official attitudes toward hemp and its potential. About 25 years ago a Dutch company owned by Americans who found Holland a more congenial environment for hemp production than America asked me to help them establish a joint venture in China for the production of hemp. They had found an eager partner in Dongping county, Shandong Province. Having never at that time been to the interior (neidi) of Shandong, I was delighted to accompany this group for negotiations with the local government, which was eager to conclude the county’s first Chinese-foreign joint venture. Unfortunately, the PRC central authorities, fearing this might be the first step toward expanded cannabis production, refused to approve the venture. But it was a memorable trip. One feature was the delicious restaurant lunch offered the group by the local Party secretary, an enterprising woman who even invited several attractive local young women to lead us to an adjacent dance floor that had a small band. Fortunately, my wife was there to keep me in line. Another feature was the group’s Danbury, Conn. general counsel, who begged me to teach him just one Chinese phrase that he could use to respond to people he would meet. Somehow we agreed on the phrase “too complicated” (tai fuza), which made him the life of the party. A new Chinese friend, for example, would be puzzled when, starting the conversation with “Nice weather today”, the counsel would reply “too complicated”!
Happy Chinese New Year to all. The Year of the Rat has got to be better!