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Agricultural industry

Senator Tammy Duckworth Advocates for Illinois Farmers Amid Trump's Trade Wars

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has been actively working with Illinois's agricultural industry to mitigate the effects of Donald Trump's trade wars and federal program cuts. The Senator met with representatives from the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers, and Illinois Farmers Union to discuss support for the state's agriculture sector. Duckworth emphasized the importance of expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports, and protecting farm safety net programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Tammy Duckworth has been a strong advocate for Illinois's farmers, particularly in the face of Donald Trump's trade wars and federal program cuts.
  • She has been working with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers, and Illinois Farmers Union to discuss support for the state's agriculture sector.
  • Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including as a founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Caucus.
  • She has introduced bipartisan bills to increase the availability of E15 biofuels and expand the use and production of biofuels.
  • Duckworth has secured significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture, including a regulatory change in Japan that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers and a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of Illinois's corn and soybeans.
  • As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois's pork, biofuels, and agriculture industries across the globe.
  • The Senator aims to continue supporting all farmers, especially members of the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers, and Illinois Farmers Union across the state at the federal level.

Statistics:

  • Estimated $2.6 billion: Commitment from Taiwan to purchase Illinois's corn and soybeans
  • 2022: House visit to Taiwan that helped secure a commitment from the country to purchase our corn and soybeans
  • 2023: Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers
  • 10 percent: Limit on the percentage of ethanol blends allowed to be sold nationwide
  • Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025: Bipartisan bill introduced to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent

Sources:

  • Released by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth on [no date specified]
  • Senate website [no date specified]
  • Introduced the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025
  • Introduced the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act
  • Introduced the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act
  • Introduced the Farm to Fly Act

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