WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Don Davis is calling on top federal officials to take swift action to support North Carolina’s flue-cured tobacco farmers, who are facing significant financial hardship after the abrupt halt of exports to China.
In a letter sent this week to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Davis urged immediate coordination between the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help protect tobacco growers and provide targeted relief for the mounting losses.
“Flue-cured tobacco is a cornerstone of eastern North Carolina’s economy. When trade disruptions occur, tobacco growers should not be left experiencing the greatest harm,” the Democrat representing North Carolina’s 1st district said in a statement.
For years, China has been the largest buyer of U.S. flue-cured tobacco, historically purchasing between 60–65 million pounds annually. But the recent withdrawal of Chinese buyers has left nearly 60 million pounds of unsold product, threatening to wipe out more than $220 million in export value.
Davis, who currently serves on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, called on the administration to ensure flue-cured tobacco growers receive equitable consideration in any relief programs tied to international trade disputes. He stressed that growers should be treated fairly compared to other producers who have benefited from federal support in response to global market shifts.
“When our farmers lose access to markets through no fault of their own, it threatens not only their livelihoods but the entire rural economy,” said Davis. “We must ensure that tobacco growers, who produce one of North Carolina’s highest-quality, most-traceable crops, receive the same fair treatment as other producers. Standing up for our farm families is about standing up for eastern North Carolina’s future.”
The letter represents a broader effort by Davis, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, to advocate for rural economic stability and ensure that small and midsize growers are not left behind during trade disruptions and policy transitions.