U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the administration officially escalated its trade war with China, causing China to impose retaliatory tariffs on goods that are vital to North Dakota’s agriculture economy.
“The trade war and retaliatory tariffs are going into high gear at the worst possible time for North Dakota farmers,” Heitkamp said. “As harvest is in full swing, farmers should be focused on getting their crop off the field – not worrying about plummeting prices and disappearing markets. The administration’s trade war is a drag on our entire rural economy. We can hold China’s feet to the fire on trade while also protecting American agriculture, but the administration has chosen a scorched earth approach that treats our farmers like collateral damage. I’ll keep pushing for solutions and action to end to this trade war and for smart trade policies that hold China accountable while also protecting markets for North Dakota goods.”