Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe
Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined 18 Senate colleagues in sending a letter, led by Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), to Doug McKalip, President Biden’s nominee to be the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) chief agricultural negotiator. The senators point out the Biden administration’s disastrous trade policies that have weakened America’s farmers and ranchers, and they urge McKalip, if confirmed, to seek market access agreements that support U.S. agricultural 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.”
In addition to Inhofe, other senators who joined the letter include Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).
Read full text of the letter here.