Western South Dakota News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.); John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), along with 19 of their colleagues, have called on U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to enhance U.S. agricultural exports and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. products abroad.

In a joint letter, the senators expressed their concerns about the decline in U.S. agricultural exports, attributing it to an unambitious U.S. trade strategy. They highlighted the importance of expanding market access and reducing trade barriers to boost agricultural exports. The senators emphasized that the current trend is unsustainable and urged the Biden administration to take immediate action to reverse it.

"We expect trade to fluctuate in response to macroeconomic factors and market conditions," stated the senators in their letter. They further stressed, "International trade is critical to the continued success of U.S. agriculture."

The letter outlined the significant impact of diminishing access to foreign agricultural markets on U.S. industries, workers, farmers, and ranchers. The senators pointed out that a decline in U.S. agricultural exports not only poses economic challenges but also jeopardizes millions of American jobs across the export supply chain.

The senators urged the Biden administration to analyze the relationship between U.S. competitiveness and market share in foreign agricultural markets, particularly in light of negotiated tariffs and market access provisions. They emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent a further decline in U.S. agricultural exports and ensure a positive trajectory for the sector.

The senators concluded the letter by requesting a response from the Biden administration within 14 days and reiterated the importance of addressing the challenges facing U.S. agricultural exports promptly.