News

Heitkamp presses Lighthizer to look out for ag in NAFTA talks

North Dakota U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp says she has secured a commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to protect agriculture during the NAFTA renegotiation.

During a recent phone conversation with Lighthizer, Heightkamp says she expressed how devastating pulling out of the agreement would be for farmers.

“I wanted to remind him that agriculture is critically important, and ag trade is critically important to Rural America.  And it’s critically important to making sure we continue being the dominant agricultural producer in the world.”

Heitkamp says Lighthizer pledged to stay engaged with advocates like her while pursuing robust ag export policy in a modernized NAFTA, but President Trump continues to threaten pulling the U.S. out of NAFTA if renegotiations fail.

The next round of talks between the U.S., Canada and Mexico take place in Mexico City later this month.