International trade and tariffs were part of the discussion. Republican challenger Michelle Tafoya said tariffs have served as leverage to bring other countries to the table. “In the short term, that causes disruptions and that stinks,” said the sports journalist. “In the long term, we need to focus on what works and that is trade agreements all over the world with reliable trading partners, not just China.” While discussing trade during the Farmfest candidate forum, Republican candidate Royce White criticized the use of farm assistance. “It’s never easy to get off of heroin, to get off of drugs. It’s no easier for farmers to get off of the subsidies of the federal government than it is for the welfare ward down there in the Twin Cities.” Representative Angie Craig, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the Senate race, cited the tariffs imposed on China, the largest customer for U.S. soybeans. “You know what happened? They’re buying from Brazil and Argentina now. If you want to talk about handouts, this administration prioritized giving $40 billion to Argentina over American farmers in the last year.” Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who is also on the DFL ballot, said current trade policy is chaotic. “The instability is untenable for so many folks,” said Flanagan. “I think people would rather just have reliable markets and be able to sell their products.”
