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Read. Follow. Verify.House Subcommittee Hearing on Expanding U.S. Agricultural Exports
Record date · January 1, 2017
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What This Bill Does
The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on June 14, 2016, to discuss strategies for increasing U.S. agricultural exports and removing international trade barriers. The hearing focused on the economic impact of agricultural trade on both rural and urban job markets and the challenges posed by high tariffs and non-tariff trade restrictions.
This hearing serves as a formal record of legislative inquiry into trade policies that directly affect the cost of exporting U.S. agricultural goods and the associated employment levels in sectors ranging from farming to biotechnology and transportation.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Agricultural Producers
These groups are directly affected by trade policies that determine the tariffs and regulatory barriers they face when exporting goods.
Transportation and Biotech Sectors
These sectors are indirectly affected as they provide services and research that support the agricultural export supply chain.
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on June 14, 2016, by the Subcommittee on Trade of the Committee on Ways and Means.
- The primary objective was to address the expansion of U.S. agricultural trade and the elimination of export barriers.
- Chairman Reichert stated that U.S. fruit and vegetable exporters face average tariffs exceeding 50 percent when selling abroad.
- The committee noted that two-thirds of jobs supported by agricultural exports are located outside of the farming sector, including transportation, financial services, and biotechnology.
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- The hearing included testimony from representatives of the fruit, brewing, dairy, and pork industries.
- The record includes 16 written submissions from various industry groups and companies regarding trade issues.
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Focus on Non-Tariff Barriers
The hearing highlights a strategic shift in focus from traditional tariffs to non-tariff barriers as the primary challenge for agricultural exporters.
Connected Entities
Sources
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Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz5Current news / social attention level
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