U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on President Trump to Stop Making False Claims About Agriculture Purchases from Mexico and China, and Start Telling Wisconsin Farmers the Truth

Wisconsin farmers have been hit hard by Trump trade wars with China, Mexico, Canada and the European Union

More than 1,600 dairy farms in Wisconsin have gone out of business since Trump took office

MILWAUKEE, WI – As President Trump stops in Milwaukee Friday his ongoing trade wars continue to hurt Wisconsin’s agriculture economy.

Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin called on the President to stop making false claims about agriculture purchases from Mexico and China, and start telling Wisconsin farmers the truth. Last month, the President falsely claimed that Mexico had agreed to immediately begin buying large quantities of agricultural products from American farmers. And last week, Trump claimed that China will buy “a tremendous amount of food and agricultural product” but has so far offered no evidence or details to support this claim.

In a letter to President Trump, Senator Baldwin wrote, “In June, you announced that Mexico had agreed to buy agricultural products from the United States but it has become clear that claim is simply not true. I’m concerned that you are once again not being honest with American farmers. Last week, following your meeting at the G-20 you said, ‘China is going to be buying a tremendous amount of food and agricultural product . . . very soon, almost immediately’ but that has not borne out.”

Wisconsin farmers have been hit hard by Trump trade wars with China, Mexico, Canada and the European Union. More than 1,600 dairy farms in Wisconsin have gone out of business since Trump took office.

U.S agricultural exports to China dropped from over $25 billion in 2015 under President Obama to a projected $6 billion this year. Some uniquely Wisconsin products have been included in China’s retaliatory lists, most notably dairy, cranberries, and ginseng—all of which have suffered as a result.

“Farmers have enough uncertainty from weather, markets, and the challenges of growing food to feed our nation and the world. Your trade wars, broken promises and exaggerated claims about export opportunities make it even more difficult for them to do business,” Senator Baldwin wrote to the President.

The full letter is available here.