Ag producers voice tariff concerns to lawmakers

Some South Dakota agriculture producers are scrambling for answers regarding the Trump administration’s trade policies. With the White House and Beijing swapping tariff blows, South Dakota’s Farm Bureau president is in Washington discussing what he sees in the fields. Scott VanderWal testified in front of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on trade, VanderWal is told lawmakers that farmers are struggling with low prices already and daily tariff threats have farmers on the brink of losing markets they rely on. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) invited VanderWal to testify. The lawmakers heard testimony from six witnesses with stories of their own. VanderWal fears if something doesn’t happen soon, more and more farms will be in fights for survival. The White House addressed trade Wednesday. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying in a press briefing the various tariff back-and-forths across the world are “short term and the president hopes to open up a number of different markets and to create a more (even) playing trade field across the globe.”