WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO AM) South Dakota U.S.Senator John Thune (R) is urging the Trump Administration to get cracking on bilateral trade agreements to help struggling farmers and ranchers.
Japan would be a good start.
"This would benefit a wide variety of American producers, including South Dakota beef producers, who currentlyh face a massive, massive, 38.5 percent tariff on the beef they sell in Japan." Thune says in a speech on the Senate floor.
He's asking that U.S. Trade officials start talks with Tokyo as soon as possible. Senator Thune says that bilateral trade agreements could immediately help the sluggish agriculture economy.
"...Farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across the country have had a rough time of it over the past few years. Market prices for farm and ranch products have been on a steady decline since 2013."
Along with trade agreements, Thune urges his colleagues to start the drafting process for the next Farm Bill, as the current bill expires next year.