releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9B922F47-6EBF-452E-A8A4-1AA2994A6A0D
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9B922F47-6EBF-452E-A8A4-1AA2994A6A0D | Heitkamp Fights for Agriculture Exports Amid NAFTA Renegotiation & New Tariffs from India | 2017-11-20 | 2017 | 2017-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp made a bipartisan push to protect agriculture exports and rural communities, leading an effort with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) to warn of the potential impacts of a renegotiation or withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and joining U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to protect North Dakota dry pea producers from India’s unfair trade practices. Heitkamp and Boozman requested U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross do an economic analysis of the impacts to the crop and livestock sectors as a result of any changes to NAFTA. Almost 90 percent of North Dakota’s exports are to Canada and Mexico. Heitkamp and Daines raised alarm about India imposing a sudden 50 percent tariff on dry pea imports, and called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to take action to protect farmers. “North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers need to export to survive, and it’s critical that foreign markets are available and fair, especially when 95 percent of consumers live outside the U.S. Renegotiating or withdrawing from NAFTA threatens their ability to sell their goods to Canada and Mexico,” Heitkamp said. “That would be a devastating loss for our farm families and rural economies, so we must fight to protect agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA and warn against the disastrous consequences of withdrawal. We can and must support American workers and level the playing field for manufacturing jobs, but not at the expense of farm jobs. Additionally, we also need fair trade practices to support American farmers and ranchers. India’s sudden decision to enact a drastic 50 percent tax on dry pea imports will hurt North Dakota farmers, which is why we’re asking Secretary Perdue and USTR Lighthizer to pressure India to reverse course and take action to support farmers who may be impacted.” Click here to read Heitkamp and Boozman’s letter to Secretary Ross about protecting agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA, continuing Heitkamp’s efforts to safeguard farmers and ranchers during the discussions. Click here to read Heitkamp and Daines’ letter calling on Secretary Perdue and USTR Lighthizer to address India’s unfair trade practices affecting American dry pea producers. The letter calls on Indian Prime Minister Modi to reverse or delay the implementation of a 50 percent tariff on all dry pea imports and requests that until such actions are taken, USDA take appropriate steps to mitigate the negative impacts of the tariff on farmers. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report showing that North Dakota is the third must vulnerable state to a withdrawal from NAFTA. Heitkamp has long worked to expand and protect market access for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. North Dakota is the ninth largest agriculture exporting state in the country, with $4.1 billion in commodities exported each year—and Canada and Mexico are the state’s two biggest foreign markets. In a recent call with Lighthizer, Heitkamp secured his commitment to protect agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA. Heitkamp reinforced how NAFTA has helped farmers and ranchers in North Dakota export to Mexico and Canada, especially as recent news reports said that agriculture may get left behind during the discussions. As the latest round of NAFTA talks came to a close, Heitkamp pressed the administration to focus on the need for farmers and ranchers to export to survive. In May, Heitkamp urged Lighthizer to defend North Dakota agricultural priorities as the administration renegotiates NAFTA. Heitkamp also pressed Lighthizer to use NAFTA renegotiations to address concerns that North Dakota producers have about Canadian grain standards, Mexican sugar dumping, and country of origin labeling for meat. Starting with her one-on-one meeting with Lighthizer in February, Heitkamp has tirelessly reinforced to Lighthizer—and to other administration officials—that trade agreements should level the playing field for farmers, ranchers, and workers, while also holding other countries accountable when they cheat on trade deals. Heitkamp is committed to protecting crucial export promotion programs in the 2018 Farm Bill. The president’s budget would have slashed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s export promotion programs. She also wrote an op-ed earlier this year about the critical role of agriculture exports. Last year, Heitkamp called on the former U.S. Trade Representative to protect North Dakota grain growers from unfair treatment after a report she requested showed that Canada segregates North Dakota grain and offers unfair prices to U.S. producers at Canadian elevators. Heitkamp called on Lighthizer to resolve the issue. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |