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Congressman shares trade concerns during Nebraska State Fair forum

A Nebraska Congressman says he’s unhappy with the Biden administration’s efforts to grow and expand trade.

Congressman Adrian Smith says he doesn’t think the administration moved quick enough on Mexico’s decree against biotech U.S. corn.

“That’s I believe a flagrant violation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” he says. “Mexico agreed with USMCA that they would take biotech corn. That’s the biggest difference for agriculture in transition from NAFTA to what we have now as USMCA. That delayed enforcement is a huge concern. I hope we can get this wrapped up quickly.”

He tells Brownfield he hopes trade opportunities with Kenya can be revisited soon, something he says the administration chose not to do.

“In fact, they’ve even unwound anything having to do with tariffs, even though Kenya enjoys some tariff relief that we give them through other policies, and this would be an opportunity for them to reduce their average, I think, 20 some percent average tariff on US products, and especially ag products. It’s a missed opportunity for us not to take that up,” he says.

According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S exports to Kenya totaled $604 million in 2022.

Smith says he wants to see more investments in trade in the farm bill.

“The Farm Bill traditionally has some trade promotion expenditures in there, for example, FMD (for market development) and market access, basically promoting our products in other countries around the world,” he says. “That has been a modest expenditure for a long time now. It hasn’t received an increase. I think we need to look at that in a more effective manner.”

Smith moderated a panel discussion on trade during a federal issues forum Monday at the Nebraska State Fair. The forum was hosted by Sen. Pete Ricketts.

Photo 1: Congressman Adrian Smith (left) discusses the importance of trade to the U.S. with former FAO Ambassador Kip Tom (center) and former USTR Chief Ag Negotiator Gregg Doug (right).

Photo 2: Sen. Pete Ricketts (left) moderates a discussion on agribusiness and the federal government with KAAPA CEO Chuck Woodside (second from left), Buck Wehrbein with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (second from right) and Nebraska rancher Rusty Kemp (right).

Photo 3: Sen. Pete Ricketts (left) moderates a discussion on environmental overregulation with former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler (center) and West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore-Capito (right).