First, we want to thank Ambassador Tai and Secretary Vilsack for working tirelessly on USMCA compliance, our entire membership of farm leaders appreciates the critical importance of your efforts.
We also want to congratulate you both on the successful launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. America’s ag exporters have long looked to that region of the world as a hotbed of opportunity.
We would also like to thank you for working to resolve the UK and EU disputes; and for working to gain market access to Vietnam, India, and other countries.
Still, there remain big challenges on the ag trade front.
Since the U.S. pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the trade world has not stood still. Our competitors have been entering into trade deals left and right. Those agreements are now putting U.S. food and ag products at a competitive disadvantage. It’s hard to sell your products when farmers from other countries can compete on price.
As we all know, at the beginning of this year, USDA estimated that retaliatory tariffs have cost American farmers $27 billion in lost ag exports.
Today we would request that the Administration take action to open new markets and address tariffs and retaliatory tariffs so that we remain the world’s breadbasket and that rural communities, including many across Iowa, are not further impacted.
Thank you once again for allowing me to join and to represent Farmers for Free Trade and Iowans at this important discussion and we thank each of you for all that you have done for America’s farmers.”
