More Collateral Damage from the Administration’s Trade Wars

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More Collateral Damage from the Administration’s Trade Wars

(BISMARCK, ND) – The trade war struck another blow as key importers of U.S. agricultural products such as China, Canada, and Mexico have retaliated against the Administration’s tariffs with duties targeting American farmers. Purchases of farm equipment dropped by an annualized $900 million in the close of the first quarter, the sharpest drop in three years.This plunge came despite promises by the Administration and Republican leaders that tax breaks for equipment purchases in the party’s signature tax law would boost investment by farmers and manufacturers. Farmers in North Dakota are temporarily pausing equipment investment decisions, while their trade uncertainty persists.

This is a war the Administration wasn’t able to declare on their own. Representative Kelly Armstrong and Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven have continued to be the Administration’s top cheerleaders in this trade war. “The Administration and our federal representatives promised North Dakotans that trade wars were easy to win and that farmers and ranchers would have more markets to sell their product,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “As farmers throughout North Dakota start planting, it is clear the Administration has no plan to end the trade wars. Farmers throughout North Dakota deserve answers from Senators Cramer and Hoeven, and Representative Armstrong on why they continue to suffer devastating losses.”

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