WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst called on China to make a trade deal as President Donald Trump’s trade war escalated this week.
China has retaliated with tens-of-billions of dollars in tariffs on American imported goods after President Donald Trump first laid down his own set of massive tariffs against the Asian giant. American farmers stand to take some of the heat, but some will get their goods bought by the U.S. government to feed poor people around the globe, the President claimed in a series of tweets over the weekend.
Ernst, a Republican member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement with regard to ongoing trade negotiations with China:
“Americans are fed up with China’s way of doing business, and recognize that President Trump is the only one who has successfully brought the Chinese to the negotiating table. But when real progress was being made, China reneged on key issues, leaving the president no choice but to take additional action.
“Iowans strongly believe that China should be held accountable, but they are also feeling the pinch and need to see that market back open for trade. We need to reach a deal, but China must stop hindering the process and be reasonable trade partners. I’m disappointed that China is forcing negotiations to where they are now; we want trade deals, not tariff wars.
“It is now more important than ever for House Democrats and the administration to act on the USMCA, and for us to eliminate the Section 232 tariffs that remain on Mexico and Canada. Getting trade deals wrapped-up will provide more market confidence and predictability to hardworking Iowans back home.”
