Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) said that he’s not overly concerned with a trade war brewing between the United States and China.

During Monday’s conference call with regional media, WRFA ask the congressman his reaction to the news that China would impose tariffs on $3 billion worth of US exports including fruit, wine, pork and steel pipes. The Chinese tariffs were a response to tariffs President Donald Trump imposed last month on steel and aluminum from China and other countries.

Reed said the response by China is not unexpected.

“As we go down this trade agenda that is being deployed by the administration, that clearly is disruptive and wants to change the status quo of our trade position – be it with China and other trading partners, we anticipate this type of action. Bottom line is, I think people want access more to the American market and the economy that is represented in the American market and I think that will represent us well as we go through this process,” Reed said.

Reed also said that the effort by President Trump to make trade between the U.S. and other foreign countries more balanced is already paying off dividends.

“I will remind you that just as we potentially will have these impacts with China, which we don’t have a trade agreement with, just Korea alone is something to learn from these tariffs that the President is pursuing, Reed said. “We had favorable results with South Korea, renegotiating that trade agreement that allowed us more access for our steel products being exported from America, as well as our milk products, which is something very, very much I’m sensitive to here in the district. We’ve got to make sure there marketplaces – be it China, Korea, or elsewhere around the world – have a basis of trade that’s based on fairness and enforcement, to make sure we have an even playing field to play upon.”

Also during his conference call, Reed responded to the brewing controversy about the upcoming census, which will reportedly include a question about a person’s citizenship. Reed said he feels the census needs to get an accurate count of all U.S. citizens in different states in order to properly reflect representation in Washington. As a result, he doesn’t feel the question is overly intrusive or off-base.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

WASHINGTON – Chautauqua County’s representative in congress says a new report regarding the continued development of nuclear weapons by North Korea is deeply concerning and is demanding the president stand with Asian allies.

According to a report from South Korea’s defense minister, North Korea has now developed a large-caliber multiple launch rocket system that has the capability to strike South Korea’s capitol of Seoul as early as this year.

The announcement comes a day after a South Korean official said the North has the ability to mount a nuclear warhead on a medium-range missile that could strike targets in Russia, China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23), who represents Chautauqua County in Washington, said the report is deeply concerning and also placed the blame partly on President Obama.

“The President’s policies of appeasement, weakening our military and lack of a firm, consistent international strategy must end as they undermine our security both at home and around the world,” Reed said in a statement released Wednesday. “It is only right that we stand with our allies, including South Korea and Japan, and demand that North Korea’s nuclear activity come to an end. In addition, we call on China to use its power and influence in the region to immediately disarm and dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program.”

North Korea recently has threatened to “scorch” South Korea’s presidential offices with its “powerful large-caliber multiple-rocket-launching systems,” according to statements from the regime.

China has already rolled out sanctions supporting the United Nation’s call to stop imports of iron, coal, ironstone, gold, titanium and rare earth and halt exports of a range of products, including jet fuel, to North Korea. These moves are likely to have an impact on Pyongyang within six months or a year.

The UN sanctions came after Pyongyang conducted a fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket in February. The aim of the sanction is to starve North Korea of funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Last week President Obama met with the leaders from China, Japan, and South Korea to discuss ways to meet one the nuclear threat from North Korea.