Ernst Encourages Open Markets

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said China has been a “horrible trade partner” to the United States.

Speaking at a town hall meeting at Yesterday’s Memories & Truck Museum in Sanborn during a swing through N’West Iowa on Monday, Aug. 6, Ernst addressed the impact of President Donald Trump’s imposed tariffs, immigration and setting an example for Iowans.

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“We do need good trade deals out there and in particular I always point to China because China has been a horrible trade partner to the United States for a long time,” Ernst said. “We’ve encouraged the president to hurry up with these trade deals. The good news is that we have the EU (European Union). That negotiation is going quite well.”

Ernst said she thinks the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico will be signed early this fall, but Canada is presenting “the most hiccups.”

“If we get NAFTA done I think we get that whole new level of optimism,” Ernst said.

As for the president’s proposed $12 billion emergency aid package for farmers, Ernst said she does not think it is the right solution.

“What I am hearing from groups all across the state of Iowa is that’s not what we want to see. We don’t need any more support programs for farmers. We really just want the trade,” she said. “Let us raise our products and let’s sell them to a global market.”

Ernst said recent conversations with U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer suggest new trade agreements could be coming soon.

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