McCaskill: Missouri farmers deserve better than uncertainly and lost jobs of Trump Administration's trade war

(From Sen. Claire McCaskill)

"It hurts American manufacturers like us because we're paying a premium and it gives an advantage to all our global competitors."

"Although we're getting offered a band aid package for one year, we would much prefer free trade."

"What I can tell you is that if we don't get immediate relief, we can be shut down in the next 20 to 30 days."
That's what Missouri businesses and farmers have to say about the Administration's trade war.

These tariffs and trade policies have had a crippling effect on Missouri manufacturing and agriculture, putting some companies in an endless loop of red tape and maybe even forcing some to shutter completely -- and I won't stand for it.

We're looking at billions of dollars of losses in Missouri because of this trade war. It's already cost Missouri jobs and hurt our farmers and ranchers -- I just can't understand why we'd dramatically escalate it.

But instead of reversing these policies that hurt American consumers and small businesses, the Administration is selling them out, most recently with another $200 BILLION in tariffs on Chinese goods.

Farmers are getting bailouts instead of access to markets, manufacturers just can't get an answer on applications for exclusions on the products they make (right here in America).

Our manufacturers can outcompete anyone, but right now they're just not getting the level playing field they need to do it.

That's why I wrote to our U.S. Trade Ambassador, asking him why his office is "causing severe damage without providing any opportunity to mitigate the unnecessary economic harm," and it's why I've been holding the Administration's feet to the fire to get answers for Missouri producers.

Missouri farmers and workers deserve better than uncertainty and lost jobs. And I won't stop fighting for them.
Claire