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President Trump announced on Wednesday a new 10% across-the-board tariff in addition to reciprocal duties that will apply to specific trade partners, including China, the European Union, India, Japan and South Korea. This is in addition to the tariffs currently in place on Mexico and Canada.
National Farmers Union President Rob Larew released the following statement today after the White House reciprocal tariff announcement.
“One thing is certain: American family farmers and ranchers will bear the brunt of this global trade war. The economic strain and uncertainty that farmers face have reached a breaking point. Without meaningful support and a commitment to fair trade policies, we will lose even more family farms, weaken rural economies, and ultimately drive up costs and limit choices for consumers at the grocery store.
“Farmers Union has always fought for fair trading relationships with other countries. We rely on stable markets and fair competition to thrive, but the administration’s actions today create instability at the expense of our family farmers.
“Policymakers must recognize that the consequences of these decisions extend far beyond the farm—our entire food system and the communities it sustains are at stake.
“Farmers Union members came together at our national convention to share their collective concerns and urge the administration and Congress to de-escalate trade tensions. Our trade policy must support the needs of family farmers and ranchers, not put them at further risk.”
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on President Trump’s announcement that the United States will impose reciprocal tariffs on trading partners.
“Trade is critical to the success of farmers and ranchers across the country. We share the administration’s goal of leveling the playing field with our international partners, but increased tariffs threaten the economic sustainability of farmers who have lost money on most major crops for the past three years.
“More than 20% of farm income comes from exports, and farmers rely on imports for crucial supplies like fertilizer and specialized tools. Tariffs will drive up the cost of critical supplies, and retaliatory tariffs will make American-grown products more expensive globally. The combination not only threatens farmers’ competitiveness in the short-term, but it may cause long-term damage by leading to losses in market share.
“We encourage the administration to work toward a swift resolution to trade disagreements to avoid tariffs that put farmers and ranchers in the crosshairs of retaliation, and to pursue strategies that expand market opportunities for the men and women who grow the food every family in America relies on.”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued a statement after attending President Donald J. Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement at the White House:
“For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world and optimize opportunities for exports abroad.”
Leaders from the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council released the following statements today in response to President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements.
“Tariffs can be a useful tool for negotiating fairer terms of trade. To that end, we are glad to see the administration focusing on long-time barriers to trade that the European Union and India have imposed on our exports. The administration has rightly noted both countries’ penchants for restricting sales of American products,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “In fact, 20% reciprocal tariffs are a bargain for the EU considering the highly restrictive tariff and nontariff barriers the EU imposes on our dairy exporters. If Europe retaliates against the United States, we encourage the Administration to respond strongly by raising tariffs on European cheeses and butter. We also appreciate the President’s recognition of the sizable barriers facing U.S. dairy exports into the Canadian market.”
“President Trump’s commitment to addressing certain unfair and harmful trade policies that American dairy farmers and manufacturers have long faced in the global marketplace can yield positive results if the tariffs announced today are used as leverage to remedy the various trade barriers facing our exporters,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “A firm hand and decisive approach to driving changes is most needed with the European Union and India to correct their distortive trade policies and mistreatment of American agriculture including both imbalanced tariff barriers and nontariff choke-points such as the misuse of Geographical Indications to block sales of our cheeses.”
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