Ernst Works to Promote Fair Trade and Remove Barriers for Iowa Agricultural Exports

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is working to promote fair markets and protect American agricultural exports by bridging the gap between the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

She introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act to establish a joint task force between the USTR and the USDA focused on identifying trade barriers to agricultural exports and developing strategies for enforcing violations of trade agreements. The bill will also require the task force to report recommendations to Congress to address unfair practices or subsidies they identify.

“In Iowa, trade directly impacts the everyday lives of our hardworking farmers and is critical to the success of our entire state,” said Senator Ernst. “Establishing a clearer channel of communication and breaking down the bureaucratic barriers between the USDA and USTR will help ensure Iowa farmers are on a level playing field when engaging with global markets.” 

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