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Ag groups make last-minute appeal on trade

Major commodity groups are making a last-minute push against the Trump Administration’s plan to impose tariffs on another 50 billion dollars of imports from China.

Valley City, North Dakota farmer Monte Peterson, an American Soybean Association director and vice-chair of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, says they want the administration to go back to the negotiating table.

“Certainly, we support our administration’s efforts to better trade policy. We know fully well that that’s been needed,” Peterson says. “But it remains to be a concern that if we do not get these things negotiated soon, we’re going to have an effect on this market more so than what we already have.”

ASA, along with national corn, wheat and ag equipment groups, is asking members of Congress to help convince the administration to halt the tariffs. They’re also encouraging their members to raise awareness on social media with the hashtag #TradeNotTariffs.

China’s government renewed its threat Thursday to scrap any previous deals with the U.S. if Trump went ahead with the tariffs.

AUDIO: Monte Peterson