Home | Menu | Sign Up | Donate

Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s Statement on Trump’s Tariffs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

May 10, 2019

CONTACT:[email protected] 

Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp's Statement on Trump's Tariffs

Trump's Trade War Escalation Hurts Rural America

Washington, D.C. – Founding Board Member of the One Country Project Heidi Heitkamp issued the following statement after the U.S. Trade Representative’s office filed paperwork to officially raise tariffs to 25% from 10% on approximately $200 billion a year of Chinese imports.

“President Trump’s misguided tariffs have already cut off an important market for American farmers, and today’s escalation will just add more weight to the burden American consumers and businesses are already bearing because of his irresponsible, ineffective trade war.

“His recent threat to increase tariffs sent grain markets plummeting to their lowest point in 42 years and forced soybean futures into its seventh straight loss. Today’s U.S. Department  of Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates showed the larger than expected domestic supplies of corn, soybeans, and wheat at the end of the market year. For soybeans alone today’s USDA support showed an unexpected 100-million-bushel extra surplus due to decreased exports. The news has caused soybean futures to fall to their lowest levels in a decade in another needless blow to farming communities.

China, which retaliated in response to initial tariffs by closing the Chinese market to U.S. grown soybeans and other commodities, will surely retaliate again, hitting farmers and rural Americans even harder. Our farmers are already sitting on massive surpluses instead of reaping the rewards of their hard work. They can’t afford to stockpile more of their harvest.

“The President of the United States does not seem to recognize that these tariffs are not paid for by the Chinese, but by American consumers at the check-out aisle and by American farmers who are unable to sell their harvests. These ill-conceived tariffs are nothing more than a raised tax on hardworking rural American businesses and consumers.”

### 

About One Country Project  

The One Country Project, led by former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, is working to promote greater opportunities for rural communities and ensure leaders earn their support. One Country is reengaging with rural Americans, serving as a clearinghouse of research and information for rural Americans, and working to ensure leaders regain trust by fighting for these communities. To learn more, visit the website, OneCountryProject.org. 

Posted on May 10, 2019 in Press Releases.
Get the latest news and updates from One Country Project: