commissioner slane? >> senator, i think it's important to note that shuanghui has production and distribution systems in japan and south korea. so they're obviously penetrating that market, and with the subsidies from the chinese government i think eventually long-term they could undermine u.s. exports to those markets. >> thank you. my time is up. if there are other members that have questions. senator thune? >> thanks, madam chair. i just want to take advantage of mr. slaughter's expertise why we're here, and ask a question but i would like to hear any words what you see as the long-term implications of the merger and acquisition on the american food manufacturing industry, and to be more precise, is this acquisition going to be a job creator for american workers? >> thank you, senator. it has every potential to do so, and if i could ago mr. pope's response to question earlier about the long-term. the one dimension which i hope he is wrong is that in five to 10 your smithfield doesn't have 46,000 a pla

pope and commissioner slane. how likely is it that the adoption of smithfield's processing technologies will allow shanghai, will allow shuanghui to export pork to the united states? >> well, let me -- >> because, i'm sorry, i'm concerned as chairman stabenow is, you know, of what can happen with the technology and that it does not create american jobs, it really goes the other way. so if you would discuss that and then mr. slane. >> senator, i think that's a, the concern that so many have posed is what's the opportunity that chinese product of what some would be considered a lesser standard are going to be imported back into this country. i was very clear in my testimony this is all ant exports. and, in fact, chinese products cannot be imported into the united states today, and they have no plans and no applications in place. and i have the highest respect for what the u.s. department of agriculture does in this country. and so in any event if any application was ever done, all of that product would be subject t

and i want to introduce stan slane, commissioner on the u.s./china commission. third term on that commission appointed by speaker boehner. formerly worked in the ford white house a few years ago, and dan slane has an understanding, a particularly good understanding, as you'll hear from his testimony if you read from his -- as you'll hear from his speaking today and see in his written testimony -- seeing china both as the net and the opportunity -- threat and the opportunity both that it can be and is to our country in terms of economics and in terms of national security. i think he has a particularly acute understanding of that, and i look forward to hearing him also as a former member of the ohio state board of trustees, he proudly always wears his lapel pen signifying that. [laughter] football season, academic season alie like. >> senator brown, you had me up to that point. as a michigan state university graduate, i need to have my green and white on today, commissioner. all right. mr. pope, welcome. >> good afternoon, chairman stabenow, reactioning member coc