Red, White, and Agricultural Tariffs

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.

Turns out it doesn’t matter who is in the White House next year. Ag tariffs and trade wars will continue to be a challenge.

President Biden and former President Trump have both hit China with big tariffs on national security grounds. American Farm Bureau’s Dave Salmonsen has an eye on China again after the latest Biden tariffs…

“So, we haven’t seen anything directly as far as an increased tariff on U.S. ag exports. That could be when our tariffs go into effect. Could they do that, or something harder to react to, but could be just as harmful in its way for U.S. ag interests? Would they diversify their buying?”

And that would also mean buying less from the U.S. The next president will also face a scheduled review of USMCA that so far has failed to end export barriers for U.S. dairy and GMO corn…

“Where the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have to get together, see how things are working, see what may need to be changed. Several issues, including agriculture issues, corn with Mexico, dairy with Canada.”

And there’s the question of the farm bill, where both parties’ versions would boost export promotion programs, but prospects for a new bill ahead of the November election seem dim.