WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) discussed opening up new markets for Wyoming industries, specifically mining, energy production and agriculture, with Jamieson Greer, President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to be the United States Trade Representative.

Senator Barrasso and Mr. Greer also discussed how the Trump administration will protect American energy producers from Mexico’s violations of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Mr. Greer’s confirmation hearing was held today by the Senate Committee on Finance.

On Opening Up New Markets for Wyoming Producers:

“Mr. Greer, thanks so much for being here, and thanks so much for taking the time to visit in my office.

“As U.S. Trade Rep, you’re going to be the tip of the sphere in advancing President Trump’s pro-growth and pro-worker trade agenda. You’re going to be working to open up new markets for our nation, for our producers, including for Wyoming mining, Wyoming energy production, and for our farmers and ranchers. You’ll also be protecting America’s interests and fighting back against abusive trade practices from foreign adversaries that undermine U.S. industries and our critical supply chains.

“You have a big task in front of you, as we discussed. We’re all counting on you. I have no doubt that, given your experience serving President Trump as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Trade Rep during his first term, that you’re ready and you’re equipped to lead the charge on behalf of the nation’s trade agenda for his second term.

“In regard to market access, I know we all talk a lot about market access today. We also talked about market access when we met in my office.

“I mentioned to you the importance of opening up new opportunities for the industries from my home state of Wyoming. We talked about how opening up markets in Japan for U.S. beef, that was a big win for Wyoming ranchers. I told you about how Wyoming is an energy powerhouse and the nation’s energy breadbasket. Wyoming also plays a major part in the world, providing abundant affordable energy to our allies around the world.

“We also have huge mineral deposits in Wyoming – a mineral called trona – which is refined into soda ash, a basic chemical building block used in manufacturing lots and lots of products, including glass, detergent, pharmaceuticals.

“Whether it’s oil, natural gas, coal, critical minerals, and agriculture. Wyoming’s economy, the U.S. economy is going to greatly benefit as we export resources to new markets.

“As U.S. Trade Rep, what types of emphasis are you going to place on opening up new markets for U.S. exporters and certainly for Wyoming producers?”

Follow Up:

“Could you add to that in terms of how you would do it differently than what we saw the last four years under the Biden administration? I thought they fell way short in opening access to new markets.”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s remarks.

On Protecting American Energy Producers from Hostile Mexico:

“I want to talk about Mexico and USMCA commitments. So Mexico has repeatedly violated the historic United States-Mexico-Canada agreement. They were ruled by a dispute panel to be in violation of USMCA with respect to U.S. corn. Mexico has taken hostile actions towards seizing assets of U.S. companies.

“An issue that I’ve weighed in on over the years has been Mexico’s hostility toward U.S. energy companies. Mexico’s previous president discriminated against U.S. energy producers, favoring the state-owned utilities and oil and gas companies.

“The Biden administration, I think, fell well short of fully protecting U.S. energy producers. And Biden’s U.S. Trade Rep failed tremendously to make any meaningful progress. That’s left great uncertainty, jeopardized lots and lots of money in U.S. investment.

“I’d like to enter into the record a bicameral letter that I led on the need to address this matter.

“And so, the question is going forward under the Trump administration and with Mexico’s new president, who is now in office, how important is it going to be for you, as U.S. Trade Rep, to help protect U.S. energy companies and their investments.”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s remarks.

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