releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E8153147-3E1B-40B2-A981-3694709279A6
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E8153147-3E1B-40B2-A981-3694709279A6 | Administrations Trade War Already Dampening Farm Forecast for 2019 Growing Season | 2018-10-22 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement on new reports that the administration's trade war is already dampening prospects for North Dakota farmers in 2019, as commodity prices slump and access to the critical Chinese market for important crops like soybeans has been essentially cut off. According to an article from Politico this morning, The Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service has estimated that 2018 net farm income will be $9.8 billion, or 13 percent, lower than the year before. Adjusting for inflation, farm income is barely above the lowest level since 2002. If current trends continue, some agriculture economists predict that farm income will fall again in 2019. There's no such thing as short term pain for farmers in a trade war, and new predictions for 2019 are very worrying for our ag economy and the communities that depend on this vital industry, Heitkamp said. North Dakota farmers spent decades building a market for soybeans in China, and they're seeing it evaporate before their eyes because of the administration's shortsighted trade policies. We can't be silent in the face of this self-inflicted wound to North Dakota's largest industries, and I'll keep fighting smart trade policies that protect workers and expand markets for the goods we proudly grow and produce for the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently predicted that the pullback in U.S. soybean sales to China appears likely to continue well into 2018/19 as China shifts its purchases to U.S. competitors like Brazil. North Dakota had been exporting nearly 70 percent of its soybeans to Asia, primarily China, but U.S. growers have effectively been shut out of the world's largest soy market in China since those retaliatory tariffs went into effect in July, according to a recent report in Politico. According to a North Dakota State University professor's analysis recently reported in Agweek, without the trade war with China, soybean prices would be near $13 instead of the current price around $8 a bushel. Background: Heitkamp has been proactively fighting for smart trade policies to protect North Dakota's economy. From the beginning of the NAFTA renegotiation, she has pushed for a quick resolution to the talks in a way that strengthens U.S. agriculture and preserves market access to North Dakota's top two trading partners. She has taken action 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. Heitkamp recently pushed for improvements to the aid package for farmers suffering from slumping commodity prices and an uncertain future for this season's crop. 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 |