Advocating Amid Decline in Ag Exports

Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and John Thune (R-SD) joined colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to improve ag export opportunities. They joined Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) in writing a letter to Vilsack and Tai acknowledging that trade fluctuates because of macroeconomic factors and market conditions. “However, the current sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports is directly attributable to and exacerbated by an unambitious U.S. trade strategy that’s failing to meaningfully expand market access or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade,” the senators wrote in a letter. “While the administration refuses to pursue trade agreements, China, Canada, the EU, the United Kingdom, and others continue to ink trade pacts that diminish American export opportunities and global economic influence.” Grassley, Thune, and Boozman serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee while Crapo is the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.

Source: NAFB