05.25.18

Hoeven: USDA Provides Relief for Dry Pea, Lentil Producers Impacted by India's Tariffs

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is purchasing up to $32 million of dry peas and lentils in order to provide relief to agriculture producers impacted by the 50 percent tariff imposed by India on dry pea imports last year. Hoeven joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to provide this relief and push back against India’s unfair trade practices. Further, Hoeven worked through his role as chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee to provide Secretary Perdue with the funding and authority needed to make this relief possible.

“India is a top export market for our dry pea and lentil producers,” Hoeven said. “This relief is a necessary step to mitigate the impact of India’s unfair trade practices and to help our farmers weather low commodity prices. We continue to advance efforts to open more markets for our nation’s agriculture products and ensure our farmers and ranchers receive fair treatment.”

Hoeven continues to work to ensure free and fair trade for the nation’s producers. The senator has repeatedly pressed the administration, including the president, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, to help keep markets open for farmers and ranchers and prevent retaliatory tariffs.

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