Senator Joni Ernst highlighted the importance of international trade agreements at the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee?s hearing yesterday.
In light of the recent trade agreement established between the European Union (EU) and Japan, Senator Ernst stressed the importance of a bilateral trade agreement with Japan, the largest market for U.S. beef, pork and potato exports. Senator Ernst said the agreement with Japan could help lower burdensome tariffs and protect that relationship for the agriculture community.
Senator Ernst also spoke about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) at the committee?s hearing. In February, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the TPP. Senator Ernst said the trade agreement would play a critical role for agricultural producers.
?I firmly believed in TPP, as far as our agricultural commodity products, and getting those into those countries we believe could be very good trade partners for us,? Ernst said.
Ernst also said TPP would not only be a good trade opportunity, but also a national security issue.
?If we are not participating in trade with these nations, there is certainly another country in that region that will step in, and that country is China,? Ernst said. ?I believe that good trade partners make good friends.?
