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HARTINGTON – America needs to improve its international trade deals if it is to find long term economic success, Third District Congressman Adrian Smith told a crowd of onlookers here Wednesday afternoon.
Smith, who was on a brief recess from Congress, made a quick swing through Cedar County, stopping at Christensen Well to get feedback from local residents.
He told those assembled for the impromptu meeting that trade should be a huge issue for people in rural Nebraska.
Smith, who serves as the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman, said opening markets around the world is critical to Nebraska's continued economic development.
'Trade creates opportunity for Nebraska farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and small businesses to expand, generate jobs, invest in new technology, and continue growing our economy,' he said.
He said businesses are still hurting because of supply chain issues — issues that could be improved upon by more equitable trade agreements.
Smith said President Biden has not worked to improve trade relations as his predecessor did.
“I’m disappointed the Biden administration has chosen not to prioritize building our trade relationships through enforceable, high-standard trade agreements,' he said. Their framework-first approach to trade fails to level the playing field for U.S. producers, falls short of lowering costs for U.S. consumers, and leaves opportunities on the table for adversaries like China.'
Smith also touched on immigration and the economy during his brief visit here.
Something must be done, now, to correct the issues at the border, he said.
'Failed policies and a broken immigration system have resulted in homeland security risks, a humanitarian disaster, and a loss of confidence in the Biden administration’s ability to address the crisis,' he said.
He also blamed President Biden's policies for the high inflation the U.S. is saddled with today, even though national reports indicate the U.S. economy is still much better than the economies of other countries in the world.
Smith,who in his ninth term as Nebraska's Third District Congressmen, also said many Democrats and Republicans actually want to work together to get these issues resolved. Things fall apart when the party leadership gets involved, though, he said.
Smith, who easily won his primary election, faces Democrat Daniel Ebers in November. Ebers, 52, attended Middle School with Smith in Gerhing before moving to Cambridge. He now lives in the Lincoln area.
