Congressman Doc Hastings

After 18 months of failure by the Obama Administration to resolve the ongoing tariff dispute with Mexico, Congressman Hastings today wrote to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to again press for an immediate solution that protects local farmers and jobs.  

“Eighteen months is far too long to leave U.S. farmers and manufacturers without answers.  While Washington state’s agriculture economy and jobs are left at risk, requests for details about any plan for a resolution have been met with silence. 

 If the Administration is serious about getting our economy back on track and increasing U.S. exports, a plan to resolve this job-killing dispute with Mexico must be a top priority, the Teamsters Union can no longer be allowed to block a resolution and fair trade agreements like the pending deal with Colombia must move forward.”

As a co-chair of the Rural America Solutions Group, Congressman Hastings this week hosted a forum on regulations and proposals by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will have serious impacts on farmers and agricultural communities.  

Congressman Hastings recently met a group of state and local agriculture leaders who are members of the United Fresh Produce Association.  Participants included representatives from the Northwest Horticulture Council, the Washington Potato Commission, Yakima Valley Growers and Shippers and others.  The group discussed issue important to the agriculture industry including food safety, child nutrition programs, card check, and Mexican tariffs.