A coalition of agricultural organizations representing farmers sent a letter to the U.S. Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party regarding Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. The committee is considering recommending that Congress repeal China’s PNTR status, and the groups say the impact would have sharply negative consequences.
“We respectfully urge the committee not to recommend revoking China’s PNTR status,” the groups say in the letter. “The negative consequences for American farmers, ranchers, and food producers would be profound, and the economic impact on American workers and rural communities would be felt for many years.”
They also point out that China is now the largest buyer of U.S. food and agricultural products, purchasing 19 percent of U.S. exports. “These ag exports are critical to America’s farmers and rural communities,” they wrote. Additionally, they say retaliatory tariffs in 2018 and 2019 led to losing billions in states across the U.S.