U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp urged newly-confirmed U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to defend North Dakota agricultural priorities as the administration renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Heitkamp also pressed Lighthizer to use NAFTA renegotiations to address concerns that North Dakota producers have about Canadian grain standards, Mexican sugar dumping, and country of origin labeling for meat.
Starting with her one-on-one meeting with Lighthizer in February, Heitkamp has tirelessly reinforced to Lighthizer-and to other administration officials-that trade agreements should level the playing field for farmers, ranchers, and workers, while also holding other countries accountable when they cheat on trade deals.
Heitkamp has long worked to expand and protect market access for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. North Dakota is the ninth largest agriculture exporting state in the country, with $4.1 billion in commodities exported each year-and Canada and Mexico are the state's two biggest markets foreign markets.
Source: www.4-traders.com