A combination of farm-state Republicans are beginning to break with Trump over his very un-“America First” generosity to a foreign nation and the threat it poses to American producers.
“GOP lawmakers in cattle-producing states unleashed a flurry of calls over the following days to the White House and Agriculture Department,” reports Politico. “A small group of Republican senators, including retiring Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, cornered USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in a private meeting.
According to a letter sent to Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, U.S. Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and 11 other House Republicans are warning Trump against moving forward with an import plan for Argentina beef after that nation’s Trump-like leader, President Javier Milei, won re-election. Trump officials claim the plan will lower steak and hamburger prices for American consumers, but growing Republican critics say it will also undercut U.S. producers’ sale prices at the market.
“We believe strongly that the path to lower prices and stronger competition lies in continued investment at home … rather than policies that advantage foreign competitors,” they wrote.
Politico reports frustrations are also roiling the Senate floor this week with a series of votes to undo some of Trump’s global tariffs. Five GOP senators recently joined Democrats to reverse 50 percent tariffs on Brazil and four Republicans voted Wednesday to cancel tariffs on Canada. House Republican leadership has preempted any challenges to Trump tariffs until February, but the votes were intended to send a message.
“Brazil had a trade surplus and the impetus behind it appears to be a disagreement with a judicial proceeding,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told Politico, referring to Trump’s ire at Brazil’s prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for his Trumplike attempt to undermine that nation’s elections. “I just don’t think that’s a strong basis for using the trade lever.”
“We want a level playing field. We want better terms for our exporters,” said Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who told Politico that he continues to be willing to give Trump “time” to strike badly needed trade deals.
Trump, however, appears confident in his unyielding control of wealthy farm country agribusinesses and small white farmers who voted for Trump in the last election despite catching the brunt of his soybean tariff war in his first term. Despite rising grumbles, Politico reports many Republican leaders are still afraid to counter Trump on the record.
“There was almost universal concern,” one GOP senator said only after being granted anonymity.
Read the Politico report at this link.