Rice and Shrimp Trade Bills

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La) has introduced two bills to protect US rice and shrimp against China and India’s dumping of cheap shrimp and produce into US markets.

The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act and the India Shrimp Tariff Act will both protect the agricultural industry while ensuring that food that appears on US store shelves meets US health standards, he said.

The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act establishes a joint task force on agricultural trade enforcement led by the US Trade Representative. The task force will more proactively monitor upcoming Chinese industrial subsidies, rather than waiting to react after subsidies are in place. The bill also will require the task force to report recommendations to Congress to deal with unfair subsidies they identify.

The bill is cosponsored by Republican Sens. Joni Ernst (Iowa), John Boozman (Ark), Cindy Hyde-Smith (Miss), Roger Wicker (Miss) and Tommy Tuberville (Ala).