South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, usually a reliable supporter of President Trump, on Friday bashed the administration over trade policies she said hurt her state.
Noem, who took office Jan. 3 after serving in the House for eight years, urged White House officials to finalize current trade negotiations with the Chinese. The goal should be ending an escalating of trans-Pacific tariffs and protectionist measures.
“South Dakota has been devastated by the trade wars that are going on,” the governor said at a Politico conference in Washington.
Agriculture has been a flashpoint in U.S.-China negotiations. Many agriculture industry players are clamoring for broader access to Chinese markets.
Noem said she’s frequently in touch with the White House and will continue to push for a conclusion to trade talks.
“I have consistently been an advocate for wrapping up these trade discussions and making sure we’re getting access to better markets,” she said. “I think the administration wants to do this, we have been treated unfairly in the past, and they recognize that and want to have better trade agreements.”
South Dakota has started to feel the economic ramifications of the trade war, according to Noem, with the financial hits to the state’s agriculture sector trickling into local small businesses and state-wide companies. According to the South Dakota Corn organization, agriculture in the state accounts for almost a third of the entire state economy, making it a critical economic driver for the Mount Rushmore state.
