“Thank Senators Budd and Tillis for protecting duty drawback to ensure a bright future for our North Carolina farmers.”
June 12, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. — Our Ag Future, a North Carolina Chamber of Commerce initiative dedicated to empowering and preserving the heritage of farming in North Carolina, today released a new ad thanking Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Ted Budd for standing with North Carolina farmers and committing to protecting duty drawback.
The ad, “Bright Future,” is a part of a six-figure, month-long campaign that launched in June to urge members of Congress to stop the repeal of duty drawback currently contained in the House version of the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The 30-second ad spot will run on TV and digital platforms across North Carolina.
This campaign also features testimonials from North Carolina farmers like Brandon Batten, a 6th-generation farmer from Johnston County, who said: “This is not just an attack on tobacco. This is an attack on agriculture and our rural communities and economies.”
Watch the ad here.
TRANSCRIPT:
North Carolina farmers sell their products all over the world
And duty drawback makes it possible
Senators Budd and Tillis have championed duty drawback because they know it keeps North Carolina farmers competitive.
Without it, investments leave our state, hurting our farmers and their families.
It’s simple: Without duty drawback, special interests win, North Carolina loses.
Thank Senators Budd and Tillis for protecting duty drawback to ensure a bright future for our North Carolina farmers.
BACKGROUND:
- Duty drawback allows U.S. exporters to recover tariffs on imported goods used in products that are later exported, a policy that has enabled North Carolina agriculture to thrive in international markets. Its repeal, industry experts warn, would disproportionately hurt rural communities and undermine years of trade progress for American farmers.
- Earlier this month, Our Ag Future launched a six-figure ad blitz urging Senators Tillis and Budd to oppose the duty drawback reconciliation provision that would hurt NC farmers.
###