The government has already collected over $3.5 billion from tariffs, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Meanwhile, farmers and ranchers are suffering as the trade war impacts their ability to sell goods abroad, hurting their bottom lines and their livelihoods as the administration’s trade war is impacting everything from commodity prices to input costs for producers in North Dakota and elsewhere around the country. Heitkamp’s legislation would take action to help mitigate some damage caused by retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. goods. Heitkamp will introduce the bill in the U.S. Senate, and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL) will introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The trade war is causing real pain for North Dakota farmers and ranchers, which is why I’ve been working on commonsense actions to open markets and support producers. Our new bill is another needed step to help those being harmed with the funds being brought in from the tariffs,” Heitkamp said. “We can’t just sit by and watch orders get cancelled and markets disappear, so I’m doing everything I can to speak out against this trade war and to help relieve some of the pain it is causing. What North Dakota producers ultimately want is markets, so this bill specifically aims to boost exports and help them find new buyers for the goods they work hard to produce. We need smart trade policies that support hard working North Dakotans and strengthen our rural economy. Period.”