releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6EDE5E19-5609-4F11-ADEF-E4298F3265B1
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6EDE5E19-5609-4F11-ADEF-E4298F3265B1 | As Trade War Escalates, New Retaliatory Tariffs Starting Today Target Commodities Important to ND Ag Economy | 2018-09-24 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. 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. The retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. goods include commodities important to North Dakota's ag economy, such as beef and pork based products, frozen peas and soybean and corn oil. The trade war is already hurting farmers and ranchers by causing commodity prices to fall and orders to be cancelled. Not a single order for North Dakota soybeans has been placed by China, which was the biggest customer of the state's crop. North Dakota soybean farmers are losing hundreds of millions of dollars in the trade war. North Dakota commodities affected by this round of retaliatory tariffs include: In addition to spurring retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, the administration's escalation of the trade war led the Chinese to cancel talks aimed at ending the dispute, potentially prolonging the economic pain being felt by North Dakota's biggest industries. From the beginning of this administration, Heitkamp has been proactively fighting for smart trade policies to protect North Dakota producers by: Pressing top officials since the beginning of this administration to protect and expand markets for North Dakota goods. Heitkamp has met with the U.S. Agriculture Secretary (USDA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S Commerce Secretary, and many other top U.S. administration officials many of them several times to explain that the U.S. needs smart trade policies to allow our farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers to reach new markets not tariffs, uncertainty with NAFTA, or hostility toward our top trading partners. In February 2017, when she first met with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, when he was a nominee for the position, the bulk of their conversation focused on trade. Heitkamp recently pushed Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, on the impact of the administration's trade war on the U.S. economy. Powell agreed that imposing tariffs over a sustained period time is the wrong thing to do for the economy. Engaging with North Dakota's critical trading partners like Canada and Mexico. In frequent meetings and phone calls with the Mexican and Canadian Ambassadors to the U.S., Heitkamp has worked to protect the trade relationships that keep North Dakotas export-dependent economy thriving. She recently coordinated a meeting between North Dakota farmers and ranchers and the Mexican ambassador to help maintain their trade relationship amid the uncertainty caused by the administration's trade war and NAFTA renegotiation. Introducing legislation to help farmers and ranchers recover losses they face because of the administration's trade war. In July, Heitkamp introduced legislation that would make Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) available at no additional cost to the existing TAA program to farmers and producers whose exports are hurt by retaliatory tariffs caused by the administration's trade policies. She also introduced a bill to direct funds the government is collecting from tariffs on imported goods toward trade promotion assistance to help open new markets for farmers and ranchers hurt by the trade war. Gaining input from North Dakotans. Heitkamp has regularly met with folks from North Dakota impacted by trade, including recent meetings in Washington with North Dakota growers of soybeans, corn, barley, and other commodities, as well as manufacturers and small business owners. She has held a series of meetings across the state to gain input from North Dakotans in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. And she recently launched a web survey to gain input from North Dakotans to help inform how she can best push back on the administration's actions on trade. Raising concerns about impacts of retaliatory tariffs on the manufacturing industry. Heitkamp recently toured WCCO Belting, Inc. in Wahpeton and heard firsthand the concerns the North Dakota manufacturer has about trade wars and its ability to export its goods. Over half of WCCO's sales are to international customers, making trade an essential part of its business model. Speaking out against tariffs and uncertainty regarding NAFTA that would put the state's economy at risk. Heitkamp has met with farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers across North Dakota to talk about the need for smart trade policies that support North Dakota. She penned op-eds in March 2017 and again in April 2018 making the case. In February, she also did an episode on her podcast, The Hotdish, about NAFTA and the importance of trade for agriculture. For the episode, she interviewed the former U.S. agricultural trade negotiator and a North Dakota barley farmer. Heitkamp recently brought a group of North Dakota agriculture leaders to the Mexican Embassy in Washington to talk about the importance of NAFTA and reinforce their commitment to a strong relationship with their customers in Mexico Pressing for analysis about the impact of the administration's trade policies on small businesses. Heitkamp recently called on the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy to analyze the impact of the administration's tariff policies on American small businesses. Small businesses represent nearly 99 percent of all businesses in North Dakota, and support nearly 60 percent of all jobs in the state, according to SBA. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |