BAKERSFIELD, Calif (KBAK/KBFX) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visited Bakersfield on Tuesday for a roundtable discussion with Rep. Vince Fong focused on challenges facing farmers and the agriculture industry, with an emphasis on expanding agricultural exports.
“And so having a partner, coming from Sacramento and now Washington DC, to have the administration so attuned,” Fong said.
Lutnick said the discussion underscored the Trump administration’s trade priorities and its message to agricultural producers.
Commerce Secretary Lutnick touts Trump export push at Bakersfield farm roundtable (Photo: AdobeStock)
“Well, I think the round table brought out the fact that the federal government, which seems so distant when you’re here, really has their back. That we care and our trade policy is all about farm exports,” Lutnick said.
The visit comes as some critics argue tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have hurt agricultural export revenue.
Ag Alert reported in an article in March that “the value of annual pistachio exports to China declined from twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five by about four hundred and seventy eight million dollars while almond exports fell by roughly two hundred and twenty eight million dollars.”
Asked about how trade barriers could impact Central Valley farmers, Lutnick criticized China’s role in agricultural trade.
Commerce Secretary Lutnick touts Trump export push at Bakersfield farm roundtable (KBAK/KBFX)
“They may be a client for the time being. But they weaponize everything. They just do. And you should understand that they stop buying in order to create a trade tension,” Lutnick said.
Lutnick said he expects conditions to improve and predicted new export opportunities in the months ahead.
“Over the next six months, all of these countries are breaking down their barriers, and your farmers are going to be able to export at a level they’ve never had before. They’ve had Stockholm syndrome. They thought that they weren’t allowed. And now it’s going to unleash them,” Lutnick said.