HR 122 (LSB 6244YH (8) 87)

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 122

BY  M. SMITH, STAED, LENSING, STECKMAN, KURTH, THEDE, ISENHART, MASCHER, HUNTER, ANDERSON, BEARINGER, HEDDENS, KEARNS, COHOON, OLDSON, JACOBY, R. SMITH, BROWN-POWERS, McCONKEY, T. TAYLOR, GASKILL, BRECKENRIDGE, FORBES, H. MILLER, MEYER, GAINES, WOLFE, PRICHARD, WESSEL-KROESCHELL, OLSON, KRESSIG, ABDUL-SAMAD, KACENA, NIELSEN, HALL, and WINCKLER

A Resolution calling on President Donald Trump and the United States Congress to immediately engage in constructive dialogue and to negotiate beneficial trade regulations with other countries in order to discontinue trade practices that have an adverse impact on the people of Iowa and on Iowa’s economy. 

   WHEREAS, Iowa leads the nation and the world in ethanol production and the demand for exports of ethanol continues to increase; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is the largest producer of corn and hogs in the United States; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is one of the top producers of soybeans in the United States; and
   WHEREAS, in 2017 Iowa exported over $13.2 billion in manufactured goods and value-added agricultural products to 185 countries; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is a leading exporter of pork, corn, and feed grain; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is second in the nation for soybean exports; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is second in the nation for overall value of agricultural exports; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa exported pork products to 32 countries in 2017; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa is home to more than 6,000 manufacturing firms that contribute more than $28 billion to Iowa’s economy; and
   WHEREAS, over 214,000 Iowans, representing almost 14 percent of Iowa’s total workforce, are employed by Iowa manufacturing firms; and
   WHEREAS, in 2017 the top five importers of Iowa manufactured goods and value-added agricultural products were Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, and Germany; and
   WHEREAS, President Trump announced tariffs on the import of certain steel and aluminum articles; and
   WHEREAS, on April 2, 2018, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced tariffs on products manufactured in the United States, including a 25 percent tariff on certain pork products; and
   WHEREAS, President Trump has indicated his intentions to impose substantial additional tariffs on Chinese-made products; and
   WHEREAS, on April 4, 2018, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a 25 percent tariff on soybeans and additional tariffs on other products produced in the United States and such tariffs may be detrimental to the people of Iowa and Iowa’s economy; and
   WHEREAS, President Trump has expressed his intentions to take actions impacting trade relationships with additional trade partners; and
   WHEREAS, President Trump’s actions have already destabilized the markets for Iowa farmers and manufacturers who are experiencing sharp declines in commodity prices for pork, soybeans, and corn; and
   WHEREAS, Iowa agricultural experts predict 20 percent of Iowa farmers face the danger of losing their land within the next two years; and
   WHEREAS, failure to quickly end any possibility of a trade war could result in China permanently replacing Iowa exports with commodities and products from other countries, including Brazil; and
   WHEREAS, an escalating trade war could cause President Trump or additional trade partners to take actions detrimental to the people of Iowa and to Iowa’s economy; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives calls on President Trump and the United States Congress to engage in constructive dialogue and to negotiate beneficial trade regulations with other countries in order to discontinue trade practices that have an adverse impact on the people of Iowa and on Iowa’s economy; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Charles Grassley, Senator Joni Ernst, Congressman Steve King, Congressman David Young, and Congressman Rod Blum, all of whom supported Donald Trump’s candidacy in 2016 even while he threatened a possible trade war, should take bold action immediately to ensure that President Trump reverses his course to create a trade war, to guarantee that no farmers will lose their land as a result of a trade war, and to require that the federal government reimburse Iowa farmers for significant losses already sustained due to the market disruption; and
   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to President of the United States Donald J. Trump, Vice President and President of the United States Senate Michael Pence, Majority Leader of the United States Senate Mitchell McConnell, Jr., Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Paul Ryan, Jr., United States Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, and each member of Iowa’s congressional delegation.