South Dakota Delegation Asks Trump to Consider Agriculture Sector in Trade Negotiations

The three Republican lawmakers from South Dakota told President Donald Trump his trade policy could put many agriculture producers on the brink of collapse. While agriculture contributes only about 1 percent of GDP nationally, it's 10 percent of South Dakota's gross state product, according to South Dakota State University. "Recent market uncertainty has already cost South Dakota producers hundreds of millions of dollars, and the delegation hopes this letter serves as a reminder to the president that this industry cannot afford to be further entangled in global trade disputes," a press release on Sen. John Thune's website said. Thune is in the Republican Senate leadership. The three's letter to Trump, dated July 11, also said, "Although you have stated that the agriculture sector will be taken care of through some form of USDA assistance, please keep in mind that U.S. export market share is diminishing daily at an alarming rate, and history has proven that once lost, export markets can take years, even decades to recapture."