McMorris Rodgers Statement on President Trump’s Farmer Aid Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 25, 2018) – Today, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement regarding President Trump’s announcement of $12 billion in aid funding to help farmers impacted by tariffs.

“Farmers want trade, not aid,” said McMorris Rodgers. “That’s why I’m continuing to urge the administration to walk back these tariffs so we can protect and expand markets for our farmers to sell their goods and make a living. In fact, I’m sitting down with Larry Kudlow, White House Economic Advisor, and Peter Navarro, Director of Trade and Industrial Policy, tomorrow to continue to advocate for Eastern Washington farmers and producers in favor of conservative trade policy and open markets.”

NOTE: Since March, Cathy has continued to speak out to the administration regarding these across-the-board tariffs. On March 7, she joined in writing a letter to President Trump which said, “We are writing to express deep concern about the prospect of broad, global tariffs on aluminum and steel imports.  Because tariffs are taxes that make U.S. businesses less competitive and U.S. consumers poorer, any tariffs that are imposed should be designed to address specific distortions caused by unfair trade practices in a targeted way while minimizing negative consequences on American businesses and consumers.”

On March 26, Cathy wrote an op-ed in the Capital Press to again express her opposition to across-the-board tariffs and her support of increased urgency in new trade negotiations. You can read her full column by clicking here.

Again on June 11, she wrote a letter alongside representatives and senators from Washington state urging the administration to address tariff retaliation. In it the delegation said, “The impact of these retaliatory actions on Washington’s thriving agricultural industry would not only significantly affect the agricultural industry, but also workers, families, and small businesses throughout the state. We urge the Administration to make it a priority to negotiate a solution that shields our specialty crop growers from retaliatory actions in the form of tariffs or other barriers to trade. With cherry harvest beginning in the Pacific Northwest, time is of the essence for our growers.”

Additionally, you can find a snapshot of local coverage of Cathy’s advocacy for smart trade policies here:

• March 6, Spokesman-Review | Washington delegation takes stances against Trump tariffs
• March 23, Capital Press | Q&A: Trump trade tactics concern McMorris Rodgers
• March 27, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin | U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers addresses farm and trade at town hall
• April 5, Spokesman-Review | McMorris Rodgers: Trump should listen to Washington wheat farmers on tariffs
• May 4, Spokesman-Review | Farm groups, fearing a trade war, voice concerns to McMorris Rodgers
• June 1, Spokesman-Review | Tariff war could hit Washington state apple sales to Mexico
• June 27, CNBC | GOP House conference chair: Foreign investment update is important, but ‘I’m concerned about trade wars’

# # #