U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly released the following statement Friday as the Administration imposed tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese products and China retaliated with tariffs on American products including soybeans, corn, pork, and poultry. China accused the U.S. of launching “the biggest trade war in economic history.”
Donnelly said, “I support creating a level playing field for our steel producers, however, I’m incredibly concerned that the Administration’s approach will cause lasting harm to Hoosier farmers who have worked a lifetime to develop access to international markets. When I met with President Trump last week we discussed our shared desire to crack down on bad actors including China, but I also shared with him the growing concerns I’ve heard from Hoosier farmers about falling commodity prices and uncertainty created by current trade policy. I urge the Administration to instead take measured, targeted action in a way that will allow manufacturers, the steel industry, and all our farmers to continue selling quality products all over the world. In addition, it’s critical that Congress finalize the Farm Bill quickly to provide some certainty and stability to our farmers.”
Among the Hoosier priorities and provisions Donnelly secured in the Senate-passed Farm Bill is a measure that would increase export opportunities for Indiana farmers through two export promotion programs, the Foreign Market Development Program and the Market Assistance Program. This builds on Donnelly’s bipartisan legislation with Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Donnelly met with Hoosier farmers earlier this week in Terre Haute and heard firsthand their concerns about the Administration’s trade policy. This followed his meeting late last week with President Trump at the White House, where they discussed trade policy and its impact on Hoosier farmers.
