Recently we hit the 16-month mark in the Trump administration, which is working around the clock to deliver real results for Americans.Just to name a few, we have secured over two dozen new trade deals, reformed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to lower labor costs by up to $2 billion annually, and led efforts to drive down the cost of key inputs, including fertilizer.
Last week in Arizona, alongside Administrator Kelly Loeffler of the U.S.Small Business Administration and Representative Juan Ciscomani, I announced our plan to restore American dominance for a vital commodity hit hard in recent decades — cotton.Jon Post’s cotton farm in Marana, Arizona was the perfect place to draw attention to the enduring value of this healthy natural fiber, which is woven into our nation’s history.
For millennia, cotton has been a staple in everyday clothing, fine garments, and dyed tapestries around the globe.In 1607, Virginia settlers planted it in their first garden, and latter colonists proudly wore cotton as a reminder of American independence.In Arizona — the third highest producer of high-quality Pima cotton in the U.S.
— growers planted over 102,000 acres of cotton last year, which produced over 280,000 cotton bales.Nationwide, the cotton sector annually contributes $21 billion and more than 125,000 jobs to the U.S.
economy.TRUMP ROLLS OUT PLAN TO BACK FARMERS AMID RISING COSTS, PLEDGING 'GOLDEN AGE'Instead of protecting this valuable sector of our agricultural economy, the previous administration turned a blind eye as cotton growers were squeezed by foreign competitors using unfair trade practices.And in 2023, Brazil overtook the United States as the world’s top cotton exporter.Thankfully, President Trump and his entire administration are working to reverse course and reassert America’s global cotton dominance.Visiting the Grand Canyon state gave us the opportunity to announce the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Great American Cotton Plan, which c...