US farmers face higher costs, fewer markets from tariffs, farm groups warn
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Farmers are bracing to lose money growing corn and soybeans, the nation’s biggest commodity crops.
PHOTO: JENN ACKERMAN AND TIM GRUBER/NYTIMES
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CHICAGO - US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China
Mr Trump imposed 25 per cent duties on imports from Mexico and Canada and doubled duties on Chinese goods to 20 per cent, sparking trade wars with the biggest buyers of US farm products.
Canada and China targeted American products including wheat and poultry with retaliatory levies, while farm groups said US tariffs on imports from Canada would raise fertilizer costs. About 85 per cent of US imports of potash fertilizer come from Canada, according to industry data.
Higher costs and lower exports would hit farmers as many are bracing to lose money growing corn and soybeans, the nation’s biggest commodity crops.
“For the third straight year, farmers are losing money on almost every major crop planted,” said Mr Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“Adding even more costs and reducing markets for American agricultural goods could create an economic burden some farmers may not be able to bear,” Mr Duvall added.
US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she was in communication with Mr Trump about the economic repercussions to farmers.
“His message, frankly, to the... community is ‘trust me’,” Mr Rollins told reporters at the National Association of Counties conference.
China, the world’s biggest soybean importer, retaliated against US tariffs
Worries about tariffs and retaliation prompted some Canadian grocers to cancel orders from American produce growers and shift to suppliers in other countries in the past month, US farmers’ group Western Growers said.
For red meat, Canada, Mexico and China accounted for US$8.4 billion in US exports in 2024, according to the US Meat Export Federation.
“Tariff wars are only serving to harm those who rely on international trade to support their livelihoods,” said Mr Greg Tyler, CEO of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. REUTERS
