Bill to Direct USTR, USDA to Identify Ag Tariff Barriers Introduced

House Republicans introduced a bill this week that would ask the Office of the Trade Representative and USDA to set up a task force to dismantle tariff and non-tariff barriers to agricultural exports. The legislation, called the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act, is a companion to a Senate bill (see 2309280066).

Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, who helped introduce the bill, said President Joe Biden "has no interest in negotiating new trade agreements that would expand our export capacity or holding foreign countries – like Mexico and Brazil – accountable for their unfair trade practices.” He added he will "continue to leverage my voice to enforce our trade laws, hold our trading partners accountable to our rules-based trading system, and ensure that Iowa farmers have a seat at the table in global markets."