... Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, criticized the tariffs for potentially driving up costs for a range of imported products.
"No one wins in a trade war. The last time President Trump started a trade war, costs went up for America's family farmers and consumers," Craig said. "The same will happen today. The cost of imported goods like oil, lumber, avocados, tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, onions and mushrooms and other fresh food are likely to go up for Americans. At a time when farmers are struggling with high input costs and the American people continue to struggle with the cost of groceries, these tariffs will make it more expensive for farmers to grow food and for consumers to buy it. Additionally, when American farmers face the inevitable retaliatory tariffs from our trading partners, their profits take a hit. This action is especially questionable since President Trump's previous administration negotiated our last trade agreement -- USMCA -- with Canada and Mexico."
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring said he had "extensive conversations with farmers and other stakeholders" who raised concerns about tariffs.
"While there are still a lot of unknowns, it's important to remember two things: Canada and Mexico are our biggest export destinations, and the last time this happened, retaliatory tariffs specifically targeted agriculture," Boring said.
Mark McHague, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, noted his state's reliance on exports, which accounts for roughly one-third of farmers' income. Nebraska's exports to the top five agricultural products accounted for over $3.5 billion in 2024. Those sales helped support the largest segment of Nebraska's economy, which hit a rough patch in 2024, falling 17% as compared to 2023, he noted.
"Today's announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, some of Nebraska agriculture's most important trading partners, only adds to the economic uncertainty which remains the top concern at dinner tables on farms and ranches across our state and nation," McHague said.
McHague also pointed out that U.S. farmers rely on Canada for 80% of the potash fertilizer used, as well as imported crop-protection tools and energy. ...
