U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today led a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer, voicing support for American sheep producers who have been disadvantaged by surging imports into the domestic market. The letter also highlighted a recent petition put forth by American producers to USTR and the U.S. International Trade Commission to initiate an investigation under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 into foreign imports.
“We appreciate both your and President Trump’s decisive action to address unfair trading practices against American agricultural producers as well as efforts to enhance market access across the globe. America’s domestic sheep industry, already facing stubbornly high input costs and labor shortages, has suffered serious harm due to unchecked imports from foreign competitors over the last several years. As Senators who represent significant portions of the domestic sheep industry, we urge you to use all available measures at your disposal to support American sheep producers.
…America has a vested interest in maintaining our sheep industry, but without action multi-generational family run farms and ranches will no longer be viable. We appreciate the Trump Administration’s ongoing support for American agriculture and willingness to address injurious harm caused by unfair trading practices from competitors across the globe,” Daines wrote in the letter.
Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) joined Daines in sending the letter.
Read the full letter HERE.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins