Cramer Highlights American Excellence, Global Leadership at Reagan National Economic Forum

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SIMI VALLEY, CA - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined the second annual Reagan National Economic Forum (RNEF) for a panel discussion on economic diplomacy. Focused on economic, fiscal, and monetary policy, the RNEF complements the long-running Reagan National Defense Forum, which convenes leaders in government and defense to address national security challenges. Federal officials, elected leaders, and top voices in economics, business, and public policy gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., for a full day of discussions, panels, and keynote addresses. This year's theme, "Building the American Future: Growth, Innovation, and Opportunity at 250," emphasized opportunities and ideas to strengthen American communities, businesses, and families.

The panel, entitled "Economic Statecraft in an Era of Great Power Competition," discussed energy, trade, utilizing tariffs as tools, strengthening the U.S. export control regime, the long-term fiscal choices facing the country, and more. Moderated by POLITICO international trade reporter Daniel Desrochers, Cramer joined President of the Council on Foreign Relations Ambassador Michael Froman, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt, and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder.

Cramer talked about permitting reform and emphasized the importance of strengthening trade relationships with allied nations while strategically reducing U.S. dependence on China. He highlighted his efforts to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank, leverage America's carbon advantage in global markets, and push back against discriminatory foreign tariffs targeting American products. He also showcased North Dakota's role as a powerhouse of domestic production, driving U.S. energy independence through the Bakken oil formation and leading the nation in producing vital agricultural commodities.

"North Dakotans have lived through these [trade] cycles," said Cramer. "We've been geopolitical long before other parts of the country. We've been selling wheat around the world for a long time-along with beef, sunflowers and soybeans-as well as oil and gas. North Dakota understands that we can't consume everything, so trade is really important. However, they're equally patriotic as they are eager to sell stuff, so object to a trading partner who doesn't reciprocate or who takes advantage of certain critical supply chains-so kudos to Donald Trump for stepping in."

During the panel, Cramer highlighted the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which opens this summer in Medora, N.D. The library will honor Roosevelt's transformative time in the state and his service as the nation's 26th President. It will focus on the three principles Roosevelt embodied throughout his life and presidency: conservation, leadership, and citizenship.

Cramer also drew a distinction between "friendshoring" and "onshoring," emphasizing while the United States should prioritize trade relationships with trusted allies, those partnerships should complement-not replace-strong domestic manufacturing and production. He argued that resilient supply chains require both reliable international partners and a robust American industrial base.

As part of that effort, Cramer highlighted legislation he introduced to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for the next 10 years, which would mark the longest reauthorization in the bank's history. The legislation represents the second time Cramer has led the effort to renew EXIM's authority. He noted the proposal has thus far received no opposition and emphasized the bank's role in helping American businesses compete and win in international markets.

A longtime advocate for domestic critical minerals production, Cramer stressed the need to secure American supply chains by expanding the development, processing, and refining of critical minerals in the United States. He highlighted the superiority of American labor and environmental standards and argued reducing reliance on adversaries like China is both an economic and national security imperative. During the discussion, Cramer emphasized the importance of bringing more of the critical minerals supply chain back to the United States to strengthen domestic manufacturing and ensure long-term supply chain resilience.

"There is onshoring, and there is friendshoring," added Cramer. "We have plenty of friends who have a lot of critical minerals and rare earth elements. We have a lot of them, too, [and] I think therein lies the opportunity with regard to the Export-Import Bank. We identify critical minerals as an area for possible investment. We have to find ways to bring more [investment to] those critical supply chains, and the Export-Import Bank is one of the one of the tools that I strongly advocate for and support."

North Dakota is playing an increasingly important role in strengthening America's domestic rare earth supply chain. Earlier this week, Cramer visited the University of North Dakota College of Engineering & Mines' rare earth pilot plant alongside Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The facility is pioneering efforts to extract critical rare earth elements from North Dakota lignite coal, advancing a domestic source of materials essential to defense technologies, advanced manufacturing, and emerging energy systems.

Cramer, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, also highlighted his PROVE IT Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. The legislation directs the Department of Energy, in consultation with the National Energy Technology Laboratory, to conduct a comprehensive study comparing the emissions intensity of certain goods produced in the United States with those same goods produced in other countries.

"The whole purpose of [the bill] is to prove, with authoritative government data, we manufacture everything from energy to food, to plastics, to steel and aluminum, with lower emissions than any other country," explained Cramer. "It's an aligning of values that allows us to push back in a unified front against those who really do it poorly."

The issue has taken on increased importance as foreign governments move to impose carbon-based trade barriers on imported goods. The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which entered into force on January 1, places new costs and reporting requirements on exporters by treating embedded greenhouse gas emissions as a direct cost for carbon-intensive industries. U.S. producers of steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, and hydrogen face potential financial exposure and complex administrative burdens to demonstrate the carbon intensity of their products.