Max Burns: “I rise today to cosponsor the bill being introduced by Senator Dorgan of North Dakota. Let there be no question, I…”

“I rise today to cosponsor the bill being introduced by Senator Dorgan of North Dakota. Let there be no question, I support free trade. Yet, Montanans want equity, and certain segments of Montana's economy are not being treated fairly under the Canadian Free-Trade Agreement. All of Montana's industries deserve the right to operate under free and fair trade. But, under this agreement, fair trade has not always been the case. Montana does have a positive trade relationship with Canada. We export more goods than are imported. Yet certain segments of our economy are being hindered by unfair trade practices. Montana's grain producers want fair trade and open markets--but currently, we don't have fair trade. The bill which my colleagues and I are introducing does three important things: First, it directs the President to repeal the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement if unfair trade practices are not halted. Second, it would impose a 50-percent tariff on imports of wheat, Durum, and barley. This would be the same as if a section 22 were imposed. And third, the bill would allow the President to end the sanctions and avoid repealing the Canadian Free-Trade Agreement if Canada ends unfair trade practices regarding rails subsidies, disclosure of export prices, and ends the sale of grain at prices below the actual cost of production. The American Government must show the Canadian Government that we are going to protect our producers from unfair trade.”