The trade partnership struck between the Trump administration and the EU this week is a “big deal” for Illinois farmers, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis said Thursday during a visit with the president near St. Louis.
Davis, a Taylorville Republican, joined President Donald Trump on Thursday in Granite City, outside St. Louis. Trump was making his first visit to Illinois since being elected, celebrating a U.S. steel company's decision re-employ hundreds of laid-off workers at a mill in Granite City.
U.S. Steel has credited Trump's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports for its decision in March to fire up a local furnace that had sat idle for more than two years. Trump is highlighting the company's action as an example of how his "America First" economic policies are benefiting U.S. workers.
“We are once again pouring new American steel into the spine of our country,” Trump said.
Trump has taken aggressive action on trade. That has prompted retaliatory action from countries that farmers and others worry will hurt their bottom lines.
Packed house waiting for President Trump to speak to steelworkers at U.S. Steel who are now back to work in Granite City. pic.twitter.com/CvV5uTrs6k
— US Rep Rodney Davis (@RodneyDavis) July 26, 2018
Davis, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal, spoke to reporters in Granite City.
“When it comes to my farmers, they have every right to be concerned,” Davis said. “I’ve relayed those concerns to the administration. But (Wednesday’s EU announcement) was a big deal, when the president and the president of the EU announced they’d come up with a deal. Those are the results I’ve been asking the White House to show us. And they certainly did on behalf of Illinois agriculture yesterday.”
Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday they have agreed to work toward removing all trade barriers between the two sides. Trump said the EU had also agreed to buy U.S. soybeans, a day after he announced a $12 billion bailout package for farmers hit by retaliatory tariffs. Trump said the EU will also become a “massive buyer” of U.S. liquefied natural gas.
“Farmers and producers in this area have invested in this president and this administration with their votes. They wanted results. And they saw results yesterday,” Davis said.
Davis represents the 13th Congressional District, which includes parts or all of 14 counties and several college towns, stretching from the western half of Bloomington-Normal all the way south to Edwardsville.
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