Chinese corn mill project in North Dakota halted on national security concern

 

US authorities order halt to Chinese corn mill project in North Dakota on national security concern

• Grand Forks mayor says federal government ‘requested the city’s help in stopping the project’
• US Air Force letter to North Dakota senator cites ‘near- and long-term risks’ to its operations

A controversial Chinese-owned agricultural project in America’s northern plains appears headed for cancellation after the US Air Force and local officials acted on concerns that the venture might be a threat to national security.

Brandon Bochenski, the mayor of Grand Forks city in North Dakota, on Tuesday issued a statement to the media asserting that the proposed corn mill project by Fufeng USA, a subsidiary of China’s agribusiness giant Fufeng, “should be stopped”.

“The federal government has requested the city’s help in stopping the project as geo-political tensions have greatly increased since the initial announcement of the project,” he added.