No End to the Trade War in Sight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 10th, 2019

***Release***
No End to the Trade War in Sight
(BISMARCK, ND) – New U.S. tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods went into effect at 12:01 a.m. today, after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement during trade talks on Thursday. China will now impose counter tariffs.

On the short end of the stick? Farmers. In the first quarter alone, income for American farmers plummeted $11.8 billion. Farmers in North Dakota have watched several tons of soybeans rot, and have been forced to pay higher prices for farm equipment, as John Deere and Caterpillar announced they would raise their prices to adjust for the higher price of steel and aluminum imports because of tariffs placed by the Administration. Instead of putting their foot down and demanding action, Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, along with Congressman Armstrong, have stood idly by, following the lead of the Administration.

“North Dakota’s delegation in Washington keeps telling the state’s farmers that they need to be patient. Farmers do not have that luxury. Crops go bad, and livestock doesn’t live forever,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “Senator Cramer, Senator Hoeven, and Congressman Armstrong have shown little interest in standing up to this Administration to put an end to this unnecessary trade war, adding yet another insult to farmers who have already lost so much in the process.”

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