Trade Confirmation Hearings Focus on Agriculture

When Robert Lighthizer faced senators during his recent confirmation hearing for U.S. trade representative, they told him that the person they appoint needs to make agriculture his No. 1 priority.

The Senate Finance Committee also cautioned nominee Lighthizer about the danger of disrupting agricultural exports to Mexico and Canada as the administration considers changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Lighthizer, who has a history in trade work and served as a deputy U.S. trade representative during the Reagan administration, also fielded questions during the hearing about China and steel.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, noted the Trump administration had listed 24 trade priorities, and agriculture ranked third. He said agriculture should be at the top of that list and added that the administration needs to move quickly to advance ag trade.

“If we don’t sell agricultural commodities in the next several months—we are at a 16-year low in prices—we will all have a problem on our hands,” Roberts said.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, was among many committee members who cautioned Lighthizer on changes to NAFTA.

When it comes to agricultural exports under NAFTA, Lighthizer said “we have to be careful not to lose what we gained.”

He also said Japan would be a primary target to increase market access and reduce barriers in the country’s trade work.

“It is hard for me to understand why we tolerate so many barriers to agricultural trade when America is the No. 1 producer of agricultural products … I think opening up more markets for agricultural sales is a priority for us,” Lighthizer said.

The nominee also addressed manufacturing: “We have to do something for manufacturing,” he said. “We have a huge trade deficit in manufacturing.”

Source: DTN/ The Progressive Farmer