Farmers in the United States are increasingly concerned about the impact of President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war. They fear that recent tariffs will worsen their already difficult situation. Costs for everything from gasoline to equipment and feed have risen, while crop prices have fallen. Farmers are now bracing for further challenges due to Trump’s trade policies.
Barb Kalbach, a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer from Dexter, Iowa, expressed her frustration. “He’s out there with his wrecking ball just throwing tariffs around,” she said. On Tuesday, Trump’s tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico went into effect. Additionally, the U.S. imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese products. In response, China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. farm goods, while Canada and Mexico followed suit with their own levies. Canada imposed a 25% tariff on $30 billion worth of U.S. products, including food items like meat and dairy.
The retaliation from China in 2018 already had a significant impact on American farmers. After China placed tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports, many Chinese buyers turned to other countries like Brazil for soybeans. This drop in demand led to lower prices and financial struggles for American farmers. As a result, the U.S. government spent $23 billion to support the agricultural industry.
Marc Busch, a professor at Georgetown University, pointed out that agriculture took the brunt of the retaliatory tariffs during the previous trade war. He believes this time will be even worse. Kalbach fears that the latest tariffs will only shrink her market opportunities. “This is just going to take parts of our markets away,” she said.
The Trump Administration’s response to these concerns has been mixed. Trump has encouraged farmers to sell more products domestically. However, farmers argue that focusing only on the domestic market could reduce prices and hurt their businesses. In 2022, the U.S. exported $83 billion in agricultural goods to countries like China, Canada, and Mexico. For many farmers, such exports are essential for maintaining prices and supporting their livelihoods.
Chad Franke, president of the Rocky Mountain Farmers’ Union, echoed these concerns. “We produce more than this country needs,” he said, “and limiting sales to domestic markets isn’t a solution.” For instance, the U.S. dairy industry exports 20% of its milk, with much of it going to Canada, Mexico, and China. If farmers were forced to sell all their milk domestically, prices would likely drop, making it even harder for them to survive financially.
Farmers are also facing challenges from other policies, including immigration crackdowns and potential cuts to government programs that support domestic demand for agricultural products. These uncertainties are leaving many farmers worried about their futures. “Farmers and ranchers already have enough uncertainty in their daily lives,” said Franke. “They don’t need any more.”
Overall, the key concern among farmers is the long-term impact of Trump’s trade war. The fear is that it will lead to even more financial difficulties. As tariffs continue to escalate, American farmers are hoping for a resolution that ensures fair access to markets and stable prices.
