U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and Representative Gabe Evans called on April 23 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to take action in support of American onion growers, citing rising production costs and concerns about unfair competition from Mexican imports.
The lawmakers said domestic producers face increasing financial pressure due to higher costs, strict regulatory standards, and limited ability for food safety inspections abroad, while foreign competitors operate under less oversight. This situation has led to market distortions that affect both American farmers and consumers.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Cramer and Evans wrote: “We appreciate the Trump Administration’s commitment to restoring fair trade practices that prioritize American jobs and strengthen local economies,” adding, “That leadership is urgently needed as U.S. onion growers face an increasingly uneven competitive environment. Structural cost disparities, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, limited access to food-safety inspections, and rapid agricultural expansion in northern Mexico are distorting the market and placing sustained pressure on domestic producers. We ask for your support in ongoing trade negotiations with Mexico to end these unfair practices and ensure American growers can meet domestic demand.”
They further stated: “We respectfully ask USTR to consider increasing duties on imported onions from Mexico,” suggesting that “A $5 duty per 50-pound bag of onions would most effectively offset existing cost disparities and ensure that imported onions compete under conditions comparable to those required of U.S. producers. Domestic producers stand ready to meet U.S. demand, and such a fee would stabilize the market while strengthening food safety, regulatory compliance, and fair competition within the North American produce sector.”
Cosigners of the letter include Senators John Hoeven as well as Representatives Rick Allen, Cliff Bentz, Lauren Boebert, Julie Fedorchak, Jeff Hurd, Dan Newhouse, Mike Simpson, and Claudia Tenney.
Cramer assists North Dakotans with federal agencies by helping resolve issues or providing information according to his official website. He grew up in Kindred, North Dakota; he earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College along with a master’s degree in management from the University of Mary according to his official website. Before joining the Senate after serving three terms as North Dakota’s at-large representative in Congress according to his official website, Cramer served on several committees including Environment & Public Works; Veterans’ Affairs; Banking; Housing & Urban Affairs according to his official website. He is married with five children and eight grandchildren according to his official website.
The request comes amid ongoing discussions about how best to protect both economic interests for farmers across America as well as ensuring consumer safety through proper inspection standards.
