WASHINGTON— U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) led 19 of their Senate colleagues on a letter to Doug McKalip, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the United States Trade Representative’s chief agricultural negotiator, urging him, if confirmed, to seek trade agreements that support U.S. producers.
“It is … disappointing that not only has the Biden administration chosen to forego the pursuit of trade agreements of any kind which can provide enhanced market access for U.S. exporters, but in the case of U.S. dairy, the administration has failed to fully enforce existing trade agreements. President Biden’s decision to put the U.S. agricultural industry on the backburner of his trade agenda disadvantages American farmers and ranchers while jeopardizing America’s strategic interests in the face of an emboldened and increasingly assertive China,” the senators wrote.
They continued, “In light of these concerns, if confirmed, we request your commitment to working to enforce, enhance and grow market access as part of trade negotiations in order to promote U.S. agricultural exports which will be critical to achieving much-needed economic recovery.”
Joining Boozman and Scott on the letter are Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), John Thune (R-SD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Barrasso (R-WY), James Inhofe (R-OK), Richard Burr (R-NC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).