According to Allen Williams, the business development manager at the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the state has had more inquiries from China in recent months than in the previous two or three yearsOur relationship with the country is strong, and their growing middle class means increasing purchasing power, and Iowa stands to gain significantly as a resulthahabetUS beef had been banned from China since 2003 due to a mad cow disease scare" When Branstad was receiving a Chinese trade delegation as Iowa governor in March, he remarked that he would like to be able to enjoy a bite of US beef at the US embassy in BeijingMeetings are planned for the delegation with Chinese government officials, industry partners and Branstad in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, Shaanxi provincehahabetIowa Governor Kim Reynolds is leading a trade mission to China that will feature officials from groups representing the state's major agricultural producers