Dusty Johnson: “Some have suggested that the supply chain crisis has eased. Now, to be sure, important progress has been made, but…”

“Some have suggested that the supply chain crisis has eased. Now, to be sure, important progress has been made, but serious problems still exist, and now is not the time for us to take our foot off the gas. Notably, although this body has passed the Garamendi-Johnson Ocean Shipping Reform Act, the Senate has not yet acted. Let's be clear: Action is needed. Earlier this week, the dry peas and lentils producers told me that 30 to 40 percent of their shipments are still being canceled by the foreign-flagged ocean carriers. Now, remember, this is an environment where 60 percent of the containers that were hauled back to Asia last year went back empty. They were empty at a time when American agriculture products were aging and, in some cases, spoiling right there on the docks. Carriers are discriminating against American manufactured and agricultural goods. This is not a conceptual threat. These practices have already cost the American dairy industry more than $1.3 billion, and things could get a lot worse. Our producers have worked hard to build foreign markets in the commodities that Mr. Garamendi mentioned as well as beef, beans, corn, and dairy. If those producers cannot meet their obligations, then buyers will look elsewhere for food. This has already cost us an estimated 22 percent of market share for our ag producers. This is unacceptable. Now, Mr. Garamendi is right. A functional market has reciprocity.…”