Trade and Tariffs Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. There is no doubt that the tariff back and forth is causing challenges for agriculture and the overall U.S. economy.
The rationale of the administration is that U.S. trade has worked at a big deficit for years. Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, says that imbalance has to be rectified …
McKINNEY … “We have to start, notwithstanding the frustrations with tariffs and the frustrations across the board, I can tell you unequivocally, trade has not been fair to the U.S. Now, we don't want to go cry about it, but at some point somebody has to put their foot down, and the President did in his first term. He's doing it again now to say ‘enough.’”
And given all of the challenges that U.S. trade and agriculture in particular have seen in recent years, McKinney says that is in no way being unreasonable …
McKINNEY … “And by the way, we're not seeking unfair trade that’s overly beneficial to us. We just want fair trade.”
So, if our trading partners are willing to talk, McKinney says we’ve got a just the person for them to reach out to …
McKINNEY … “So, that's starting with a country putting a piece of paper on the desk of the U.S. trade rep, Jameson Greer, a terrific, upstanding, highly ethical guy who knows ag pretty well.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on trade talks and why the Administration’s tough stand on negotiating is the right way to go.
