Well, here’s an outlier of a statement. Shantel Krebs is on KCCR Radio today claiming that Chinese Tariffs on pork could lead to expanding Ag Markets. Seriously. That’s the headline:
Krebs Says Chinese Pork Tariffs Could Lead To Expanding Ag Markets
Pork producers have been hit with a twenty-five percent import tariff by China, and soybean producers could soon be in the same spot.
and…
South Dakota Republican Congressional Candidate Shantel Krebs says the process could lead to expanded ag markets…
“I can understand President Trump trying to get a better deal for Americans and of course for our farmers and ranchers. You know, right now, we’re getting ready to go in the fields, we might be facing a drought although it doesn’t feel like it right now, commodities prices are low, so I think the farmers and ranchers have every right to be concerned – so am I. But what I am hopeful for is that president Trump is going to be expanding our market options meaning opening up new markets for our exports.”
What? “…the process could lead to expanded ag markets…?” The farm economy is in danger of being hit hard this year, but a trade war could make it all better? Um…. ok?
Or not ok, according to those who don’t share Krebs’ enthusiasm with a trade war leading to the land of milk and honey for the Ag economy, and are more concerned with it’s potential effect on Agriculture now. Such as US Senator John Thune:
The move was met with near-universal surprise from GOP lawmakers who were taken aback by the suddenness of the White House’s decision. Most GOP senators view the move as a tax hike on American families and expect it to specifically harm agriculture.
“It kind of came as a surprise to most of us,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the third-ranking Senate Republican. “There is no standard operating practice with this administration. Every day is a new adventure for us.”
“There’s always retaliation, and typically a lot of these countries single out agriculture when they do that,” Thune said. “We’re very concerned.”
And US Senator Mike Rounds:
Sen. Mike Rounds (R) issued a statement Thursday, stating that while he supports President Trump’s efforts to negotiate better trade deals, he is concerned about retaliation from other countries.
On Wednesday, China announced a proposal to add a 25 percent tariff on several U.S. goods, including soybeans and corn. China is one of the primary markets for many of these goods, particularly soybeans.
and…
““I understand there is some time before these tariffs are imposed to allow for negotiations; however China’s tariff proposal is already having a real market effect,” Rounds said, via a press release.
Or Congresswoman Kristi Noem:
In a letter to President Trump Friday, Rep. Kristi Noem led 46 members of the U.S. House in outlining key priorities for agriculture when it comes to trade with China.
“We must continue to build on the success that’s come from historic tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks under the Trump administration,” said Noem. “China’s irresponsible countermeasures threaten to undermine our achievements for South Dakota agriculture. I stand firmly with President Trump in his effort to hold China accountable for its dishonest trade practices, but I urge the administration to do so in a way that avoids harmful Chinese countermeasures against American agriculture. This will help us put agriculture back on the road to prosperity.”
The letter comes after China announced significantly higher tariffs, impacting all five of South Dakota’s top five agriculture products: beef, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs. The nation’s eleventh largest ag exporting state, South Dakota exported $3.7 billion in agricultural goods in 2015.
Or Governor Daugaard:
Tony Venhuizen, Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s chief of staff, confirmed the governor has been talking to the Trump administration about the risks of a trade war for months.
“The governor is very concerned that South Dakota’s ag sector could suffer from more protectionist trade policies,” Venhuizen said in an email.
I’m thinking that statement is going to come back to haunt her at some point.
Update – Americans for Prosperity aren’t thrilled about the Trade war either:
If a trade war breaks out with China, South Dakota would find itself on the front lines of what could become a costly conflict with one of our country’s biggest trading partners.
Thankfully, it’s all bluster for now. But as Sen. Mike Rounds reminded us in a recent nationally televised interview, the mere talk of retaliatory tariffs on soybeans is hitting close to home. As our state’s second largest crop, South Dakota farmers are watching with trepidation as the price fluctuates with every rhetorical barb.
This sounds like “a Pig in a Poke,” but then again most of Trumps policies are….
What were Dusty’s comments? Oh, he didn’t bother to show up. I guess he hasn’t been told what to say by Powers and Shad.
“Trade Wars are good and easy to win”
“And for my encore, I’m going to put a big ol’ ribbon on Dusty’s nomination!”
If pigs could fly
Swoosh. There went 2,000 pork producers and the rest of ag to Dusty.
Does anybody really think the Chinese are going to stop eating pork?
And if they ever did, it would just mean more bacon for the rest of us.
What does this silly statement have to do with anything?
Unforced error.
Come on, Troy. This is the great Trump economy you told us about. Things are great!
Has she lost her mind or is she just trying to lose.
she lost a while back. The nomination is Dusty’s and has been for some time.
I want my campaign donations back, this is not the Shantel Krebs I have been supporting. It’s frustrating to watch her try to be what she thinks people want. She has lost my vote and my respect.
I am all in favor of avoiding trade wars. However there are times when our country has to put its foot down. We have evidence of the Chinese forcing companies to give up proprietary information in order to do business in their country. We have evidence of the Chinese stealing technology from our companies. We have evidence of the Chinese dumping steel on the market at below market prices. The Chinese also put taxes on our products we want to sell in their country. So a tariff that equalizes what is being done to our companies makes sense. Hopefully, things will straighten out before the taxes go into effect, but sometimes you need to endure short term pain for long term gain.