WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2018) – This morning, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement after President Trump and his administration announced plans to put proposed tariffs on Chinese imports on hold.

“I’ve been urging the administration from the beginning to reverse course on tariffs and pursue more targeted approaches that keep farmers and producers in Eastern Washington at the forefront,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Our farmers are already operating on thin margins. At the same time, they are losing access to markets that took years to develop and could take many years to get back. As I meet with farmers here in Eastern Washington, they are worried, and rightfully so. Tariffs could make that situation even worse by risking a trade war, which is why I’m extremely supportive of President Trump’s decision to put these tariffs on hold while they continue to negotiate with the Chinese government. We must hold China accountable, protect our intellectual property, and reduce our trade deficit without putting our farmers at risk.”

NOTE: Through meetings with administration officials, letters to President Trump and federal agencies, and local and national media statements, Rep. McMorris Rodgers has continued to encourage the administration to rethink tariffs and pursue different approaches because of their potential impact on Eastern Washington farmers. Earlier this spring, she wrote a column in the Capital Press where she explained her views on trade and her work to fight for Eastern Washington farmers. In case you missed it, you can view her column here.

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