U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Steve Daines (R-MT) joined U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and 53 of their GOP colleagues in expressing support for the Trump administration’s ongoing trade negotiations to bolster American producers and manufacturers.
“President Trump’s decision to pause the implementation of certain reciprocal tariffs creates momentum to secure meaningful and enforceable agreements for U.S. agricultural producers, energy producers, and manufacturers,” the lawmakers wrote in a June 24 letter sent to the U.S. Trade Representative and the secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Treasury, and Commerce.
Specifically, the lawmakers from both houses of Congress highlighted the administration’s negotiation of an agreement in principle with the United Kingdom that they said prioritizes agricultural market access, collaboration in industries key to national security, and continued engagement to address other bilateral trade barriers.
However, they did note that while the initial agreement secures access to import quotas for key agricultural products, “there are significant other tariff and non-tariff barriers that must continue to be addressed in the UK and with other trading partners to realize the full benefit of new access commitments.”
Sen. Young, Sen. Daines, Rep. Smith and their colleagues also wrote that while certain barriers may require long-term negotiations, they are confident in the administration’s ability to utilize the 90-day pause to come to agreements that can benefit all American industries while providing opportunity for continued dialogue.
“There are pressing trade issues, including digital services taxes, import quotas, and tariff reduction, which we cannot delay addressing,” they added.
Additionally, the lawmakers wrote that American manufacturers, producers, and consumers are eager for the mutual lowering of barriers and the long-term certainty that trade agreements provide.
“This certainty could prevent the decline of commodity prices, recover global market share, and unleash American industry to counter global competitors,” according to their letter.
Further, they added, bilateral agreements that address both tariff and non-tariff barriers would provide opportunities to improve supply chains, drive innovation, and increase international collaboration, “all of which would reassert the United States’ global leadership and combat China’s malign influence.”