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Republican Congressmen tell farmers not to panic amid trade tensions

Republican members of Congress are asking farmers not to panic as ag commodities enter the crosshairs of what some are calling a trade war.

North Dakota Representative Kevin Cramer says while he’s concerned China has proposed tariffs on American pork, soybeans, corn, and beef, the President is taking a stand against an unfair trading partner.

“(China) has had this bogus avian influenza ban on our poultry, which they’re the only country in the world that has that.  They’ve manipulated the protocols for rice, so American rice isn’t welcome in China.  On the biotech side, certain traits in soybeans they haven’t been accepting.”

Minnesota Sixth District Representative Tom Emmer tells Brownfield despite all the rhetoric, the U.S. is on the verge of successfully renegotiating NAFTA and rectifying bad trade practices by China.

“Neither the Chinese nor the Trump Administration are calling this a trade war.  They are both talking about sitting down and discussing the problems and trying to address them.  So before we all push the panic button or pull the fire alarm, look at the history.”

Emmer points to progress on the NAFTA front and seemingly improved relations with North Korea.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently said there’s a high chance of reaching a win-win-win deal for Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

However, others are questioning Trump’s tactics.

“Trade wars are stupid and painful and unnecessary,” said Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse. “Hopefully the President is just blowing off steam again but, if he’s even half-serious, this is nuts. China is guilty of many things, but the President has no actual plan to win right now. He’s threatening to light American agriculture on fire.”

 

Rep. Kevin Cramer audio:

 

Rep. Tom Emmer audio: