Hoeven Asks Treasury Secretary to Make Ag Sales a Priority During Trade Negotiations

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week spoke with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to:
“Secretary Bessent is front and center in the Trump administration’s trade negotiations, and our conversation was focused on the need to prioritize agriculture sales in the next round of negotiations with China to help our farmers and ranchers get through current difficulties until better trade deals are secured,” said Hoeven. “The long-term goal here is getting better trade deals and removing both tariff and non-tariff barriers to ensure our producers are treated fairly in the global marketplace. Our farmers and ranchers can compete with anyone, anywhere as long as they are given a level playing field. At the same time, North Dakotans have real concerns with Canada ‘exporting smoke’ and reduced air quality, which has not only impeded summer activities, but is a serious health concern. We need to make sure the Canadian government is doing more to address and prevent these fires, and I’ve asked Secretary Bessent to press this issue as trade talks continue.”

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