NAFTA
and the importance of the trade deal for U.S. agriculture was the focus for a
session Thursday with President Donald Trump and Senate Ag Committee Pat
Roberts, R-Kan., and five other Republicans. "I delivered the message that
farmers and ranchers need to grow export markets and maintain our status as a
reliable supplier, more especially with Canada and Mexico in NAFTA
renegotiations," Roberts said in a statement. "The president
understands the difficulty farm country is going through. I told him we need a
good farm bill and the best trade agreements possible for all sectors of our
economy." Roberts indicated Trump "really listened" to the
concerns laid out by other Republican Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Cory Gardner
of Colorado, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and John Thune
of South Dakota.
From
the White House perspective, Trump was happy to meet with the lawmakers
"about the trade policy priorities both he and the Senate will be focusing
on in 2018, including securing more equitable trade deals with our partners,
increasing exports, and ensuring American industries are treated fairly around
the globe." Trump will address the American Farm Bureau Federation Monday,
the first time a sitting president has made such a speech since 1992.