Nebraska, a state which relies heavily on agriculture and trade for its economic well-being, has seen a 15-percent drop in exports the first quarter of this year compared to 2015. That’s concerning to Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Economist Jay Rempe. He says uncertainty and the strength of the U.S. dollar are the major factors behind the drop in export business.
Nebraska exports as a percent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product are 5.8-percent compared to U.S. exports, which make up 8.4-percent of GDP. Rempe says that illustrates how important international trade is to Nebraska’s overall economy.
Rempe says the lack of movement on needed trade agreements has also effected Nebraska’s export numbers.
Rempe says there seems to be an anti-trade environment lately, which doesn’t bode well for agriculture.
