WATERTOWN, S.D. (KXLG) – Governor Kristi Noem says that although farmer patience is running thin, she’s still supportive of President Trump’s efforts to bring China back to the bargaining table. That’s despite existing and possibly new tariffs already enforced and new ones threatened by the president. The Governor said she’s keenly aware the current tariffs are severely impacting the state’s farm economy, but that a turnaround would happen if Congress would  approve trade agreements with Mexico and Canada.

Speaking to the Glacial Lakes Energy Ethanol member meeting in Watertown Wednesday afternoon, Governor Noem said she would be talking soon with the President to express her concerns.

Governor Noem, who is the Vice Chair of the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition, recently signed on to a letter with the coalition’s chairman Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. That letter asked President Trump to use existing executive authority to act immediately to help restore and grow the nation’s agriculture and biofuels industries. She continues to support the President’s efforts to get fair trade deals, saying U.S. farmers have been cheated for years.

Both Governors are requesting the President follow through with measures directing the EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act as a way of reducing the toxins in gasoline. Governor Noem said they’re also asking the President extend the RVP waiver on higher ethanol blends to allow the public to use the higher E-30 ethanol blends.