Congressman Roger Marshall understands the pain expressed by agricultural companies and farmers who are caught in the crossfire of tariffs being implemented by President Donald Trump.
On Aug. 14, Marshall met with business executives who work with the Western Kansas Manufacturers Association, Dodge City, Kansas, which sponsored a luncheon to address tariffs and related issues.
“Tariffs are a tax on consumers,” Marshall said.
He was supportive of a $12 billion program being written by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help producers harmed by the tariffs. He was hopeful the disputes would be resolved sooner than later.
Among those who spoke included housing contractor Ric Marboeuf of M.R. Builder; Mark Cooksey, president and chief operating officer of Roto-Mix LLC, which manufactures commercial feed mixers and manure spreaders; Traci Beck, chief operating officer with Trojan Specialty Products, Dodge City, which sells supplies for livestock watering needs and systems; and state Sen. Bud Estes, whose family owns interest in six John Deere farm equipment dealerships in central and western Kansas.
The business owners were generally supportive of actions that can help correct unfair trade practices, and they said the tariffs have impacted their business with higher input costs, particularly those who need to purchase steel.
Marshall said he hopes that resolving trade disputes will help ease nervousness in the farm sector. The freshman lawmaker believes that reaching an agreement with Canada and Mexico as part of renegotiation for the North American Free Trade Agreement will help the quickest, as those two countries are the United States top two trade partners. He also thinks the Trump administration is working with the European Union and that will open new avenues.
Marshall also said trade opportunities maybe available in southeast Asia, with the exception of China, the nation that has gotten the most headlines about unfair trade practices, which he believes will take longer to resolve.
Cooksey said he believes Trump’s belief in fixing trade agreements is the right approach and many people he has talked to think the president should stay on his course to fix trade pacts that were short-sighted.
Marshall asked if tax cuts undertaken by Congress at the beginning of the year have strengthened the economy. Cooksey said indirectly so.
“You cannot hedge a profit,” he said, adding he has noticed people in his industry are more positive about the long term.
“People do have a more bullish attitude,” Cooksey said. “If we renegotiate our trade agreements it will be a net plus.”
Eddie Estes, president and CEO of the WKMA, said his organization has been receiving a lot of feedback, which was the reason for having the meeting.
The group also discussed labor issues, which included, recruiting, retaining and training future employees. Also, Marshall said he had hopes for agricultural visa program to help employers who need immigrant labor.
Marshall believes a farm bill will be approved by the Sept. 30 deadline.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
