The two likely Presidential candidates have expressed opposition to U.S. trade agreements and specifically the Trans Pacific Partnership. Republican Donald Trump was in Nebraska over the weekend talking about the importance of trade to the state’s beef industry, but says he doesn’t think the TPP is a good deal. Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska President Dave Wright says Trump’s comments were part of his negotiation process.
Trump said if Japan puts a 38-percent tariff on U.S. beef, then the U.S. should slap a 38-percent tariff on their autos. Wright agrees that trade agreements that lower tariffs don’t really help U.S. agriculture.
Meanwhile, Democrat Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has reversed her earlier position and now is opposing TPP. Wright has his doubts about where Clinton stands.
Wright says the U.S. beef industry is currently under pressure as imports from other countries have increased 40-percent. He thinks much of that is due to the absence of country of origin labeling and says the playing field needs to be leveled.
