WASHINGTON— WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement about beginning the process of technical engagement with India regarding trade-distorting agricultural subsidy practices.
“America’s farmers deserve a level playing field. I appreciate the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) taking this action. Furthermore, I thank the governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, Paraguay, Thailand and Uruguay for joining the U.S. in these consultations on India’s subsidies for rice and wheat. Cases like this illustrate the need to move expeditiously on Doug McKalip’s nomination to serve as the chief agricultural negotiator at the USTR to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers have fair access to the world’s markets,” Boozman said.
Last December, Boozman led a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack asking that the administration “swiftly initiate the WTO litigation process.”