La Crosse, WI—Today, Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer demanding answers as to why the Administration recently finalized a trade agreement with Brazil that did not include any agricultural provisions, leaving behind Wisconsin farmers at a time when they are in desperate need of relief.

Currently, Brazil has some of the most unfair roadblocks to a level playing field for Wisconsin’s agricultural producers due to their long-held tariff and non-tariff barriers, and their agricultural industry has benefitted from American farmers’ losses due to increased trade tensions with countries like China. Today, the Administration announced that it was moving forward with a unilateral trade deal with Brazil that leaves producers behind.

“It’s unacceptable that the Administration finalized a trade agreement with Brazil that included no agricultural provisions whatsoever,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “When I talk to farmers in my district, I consistently hear that they want a level playing field in world markets so they can compete. Brazilian agricultural protectionism is one of the largest obstacles to ensuring a level playing field for our producers and finalizing this trade agreement without making any progress on these barriers sets a deeply troubling precedent. Wisconsin’s hardworking family farmers need relief and deserve better – that’s why I’m calling on the Administration to provide immediate answers as to why they were neglected.”

Read the letter here.  

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