WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to confirm Robert Lighthizer as the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

Heitkamp met with Lighthizer in February and reinforced to him that any USTR needs to push for good trade agreements that level the playing field for farmers, ranchers, and workers, while also holding other countries accountable when they cheat on trade deals.

“As this administration talks about scrapping or rewriting trade deals, it’s important to finally have someone confirmed in this key role,” said Heitkamp. “Just as I reinforced when I met with Lighthizer in February, in this role he must stand up for North Dakota farmers, ranchers, and workers in any new or altered trade deal. In particular, I’ll make sure USTR defends North Dakota grain growers if they continue to face price discrimination at Canadian elevators, and fights to guarantee our producers have fair access to China and other growing markets.”

Heitkamp has long worked to expand market access for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. Last year, Heitkamp called on the former U.S. Trade Representative to protect North Dakota grain growers from unfair treatment after a report she requested showed that Canada segregates North Dakota grain and offers unfair prices to U.S. producers at Canadian elevators.

Heitkamp has also fought to guarantee North Dakota farmers have fair access to China, including through a World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance case in December 2016. In September 2016, she helped announce an earlier compliance case to hold China accountable for over-subsidizing its domestic crops.

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