President Donald Trump enacted increased tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Tuesday, putting a 25% tariff on most goods from the U.S. neighbors and allies. Energy imports from Canada are subject to a smaller 10% duty. In addition, Trump bumped tariffs on some Chinese exports to 20% — up from 10% previously.
The move has led to retaliatory efforts from China and Canada. The Chinese tariffs on agriculture are significant — according to a statement from China’s Customs Tariff Commission, China will place a 15% tax on “imported chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton originating from the U.S.,” as well as 10% tariffs on “sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.”
Canada placed tariffs on around $20 billion in U.S.-made goods, including tomatoes and some fruits, among other items. In 21 days, tariffs will go into effect on $86 billion worth of U.S. products. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced these measures Monday evening in an address to Canadians.
According to AP News, Mexico is planning retaliation of its own as soon as Sunday.
Across the U.S., a number of parties have expressed concern over the tariffs and their potential impact on agriculture — with sitting U.S. Senators and major ag membership organizations among those making statements.
Senators
Sen. John Boozman
Arkansas Republican Senator John Boozman is the Chair of the Senate Ag Committee.
“I am confident in Secretary Rollins’ ability to elevate the concerns of American agricultural producers,” Boozman said in a statement. “If they are targeted by unfair retaliatory tariffs or subjected to adverse market conditions, she has committed to providing the tools and resources necessary to mitigate impacts.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar is the Democrats’ Ranking Member on the Senate Ag Committee, and has expressed opposition to the Trump Administration’s tariff strategy in the past.
“These across-the-board tariffs will make it harder for Americans to put food on the table and will squeeze farmers who will lose valuable export markets and see higher input costs,” Klobuchar said. “This will raise prices for the average family by more than $1,200 a year, raise gas prices by as much as 50¢ a gallon, and raise fertilizer costs for corn and soybean farmers.
“Already, we are seeing retail stores and refineries increase prices — and retaliation from other countries that will raise prices even more. Farmers have spent decades building export markets, only to have them ripped away overnight. While I support targeted tariffs, these sweeping, across-the-board tariffs will set our country back.”
Sen. Dick Durbin
The Democratic Senator from Illinois is a member of the Senate Ag Committee.
“Instead of improving the lives of or lowering prices for Americans, we are seeing policies of the Trump Administration do exactly the opposite,” Durbin said. “The President has spent his time trying to systematically dismantle the federal government, creating rifts with our closest allies, and now, imposing destructive tariffs on our biggest trading partners. The tariffs that he has unleashed… will hurt American consumers and supply chains and undermine American manufacturing.”
Representatives
Rep. Angie Craig
Minnesota Democratic Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) is the Democrat’s Ranking Member on the House Ag Committee.
“These tariffs hurt farm country, plain and simple. Farmers, ranchers, and producers need stability, and today’s tariffs do the opposite,” Craig said. “They will increase input costs for farmers and threaten market access to three of our largest trade partners. This is simple math. Making farmers pay more for fertilizer and fuel drives up the cost of food. Making manufacturers pay more for aluminum and steel hurts sales and risks jobs. Making builders pay more for timber increases the cost of housing. None of this helps lower costs for the middle class.”
Rep. Sharice Davids
Kansas Democratic Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) is a member of the House Ag Committee.
“Kansans are already feeling the squeeze, and now President Trump is moving forward with tariffs that could raise costs for hardworking folks and put even more pressure on our agricultural sector,” Davids said. “Instead of prioritizing our families and farmers, the President continues to enact policies that benefit big corporations and special interests. I’ve been focused on lowering costs — whether it’s groceries, gas, or prescription drugs — and I’ll keep working to ensure Kansas families, farmers, and small businesses aren’t left paying the price for these reckless economic policies.”
Farmer Organizations
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
The American Farm Bureau Federation is “the national advocate for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.” As the “unified voice of agriculture” the organization represents 2,800 county farm bureaus and nearly 6 million U.S. farm families.
“Farmers support the goals of ensuring security and fair trade with other nations, but additional tariffs, along with expected retaliatory tariffs, will take a toll on rural America,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
“Farmers and ranchers are concerned with the decision to impose increased tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China — our top trading partners. Last year, the U.S. exported more than $83 billion in agricultural products to the three countries.
“Approximately 85% of our total potash supply — a key ingredient in fertilizer — is imported from Canada. For the third straight year, farmers are losing money on almost every major crop planted. Adding even more costs and reducing markets for American agricultural goods could create an economic burden some farmers may not be able to bear.
“We ask the president to continue working with our international partners to find ways to resolve disagreements quickly, so farmers can focus on feeding families in America and abroad.”
National Farmers‘ Union (NFU)
The National Farmers Union advocates on behalf of more than 230,000 American farm families.
“The tariffs announced today, along with retaliatory measures from China and Canada, will have serious consequences for American agriculture. Our farmers are the backbone of this country, and they need strong, fair trade policies that ensure they can compete on a level playing field—not be caught in the middle of international disputes,” said NFU President Rob Larew.
“We are already facing significant economic uncertainty, and these actions only add to the strain. Trade policies must come with real, tangible protections for the farmers directly affected. We’ve heard there’s a strategy in place — now we need to see it. Promises alone won’t pay the bills or keep farms afloat.”
“Without a clear plan, family farmers will once again be left to bear the burden of decisions beyond their control, and eventually, so will consumers. We urge the administration to work with our trading partners to prevent further harm to rural communities.”
Western Growers Association (WGA)
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
“In the last month, the looming threat of these tariffs was enough to prompt some major Canadian grocery chains to either cancel orders from American growers as they pivoted to other countries capable of supplying them, or to require American growers to secure a foreign product supply to supplant their U.S.-grown crops,” said WGA President and CEO Dave Puglia. “There is no question that with the move to impose these tariffs, our members will confront sweeping retaliatory actions that effectively block our American-grown fresh produce from those markets.”
“The risk is not just an immediate one. Years after the China tariffs and the predictable Chinese tariffs imposed in retaliation on many of our members’ U.S.-grown products, our ability to sell into the Chinese market remains handicapped in no small part because other countries took advantage of the disruption and captured much of that market. This lingering economic harm is quite likely to be replicated this time on a broader scale as Canada and Mexico represent the top two export markets for fresh produce grown in the U.S.”
“Our first and by far most urgent call is for the Trump administration to move quickly to negotiate a stand-down with these important trading partners. Beyond that, we ask that the administration quickly implement mitigation programs to offset growers’ losses. This will aid in our shared goal of domestic food security and help American farmers maintain financial viability.”
Commodity Organizations
American Soybean Association (ASA)
The ASA represents U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international policy issues important to the soybean industry. ASA has 26 affiliated state associations representing 30 soybean-producing states and nearly 500,000 soybean farmers.
“Farmers are frustrated. Tariffs are not something to take lightly and ‘have fun’ with. Not only do they hit our family businesses squarely in the wallet, but they rock a core tenet on which our trading relationships are built, and that is reliability. Being able to reliably supply a quality product to them consistently,” said Caleb Ragland, American Soybean Association president, and soy farmer from Magnolia, Kentucky.
Ragland explained, “As the No. 1 export crop for the U.S., soybean producers face huge, disproportionate impacts from trade flow disruptions, particularly to China, which is our largest market. And we know foreign soybean producers in Brazil and other countries are expecting abundant crops this year and are primed to meet any demand stemming from a renewed U.S.-China trade war. Soybean farmers still have not fully recovered market volumes from the damaging impacts of the 2018 trade war, and this will further exacerbate economic hardship on our farmers.”
Ragland said of Mexico and Canada, “ASA represents nearly half a million farmers in the U.S. who grow soybeans, and those farmers rely on two-way trade coming in and out of Mexico and Canada. Not only are those two markets vital for the export of whole soybeans, soy meal, and soy oil, but we also rely on them for fertilizer and other products needed to successfully produce our crops. For instance, around 87% of the potash we use here in the U.S. is imported from Canada.”
National Corn Growers’ Association (NGCA)
Founded in 1957, NCGA represents more than 36,000 dues-paying corn growers in 48 states, and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their state.
“Farmers are facing a troubling economic landscape due to rising input costs and declining corn prices,” said Illinois farmer and NGCA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “We ask President Trump to quickly negotiate agreements with Mexico, Canada, and China that will benefit American farmers while addressing issues important to the U.S. We call on our trading partners to work with the president to resolve these issues so that we can restore vital market access.”
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)
The NPPC is the nation’s largest organization helping pork producers across the U.S.
“Mexico is our number one market for exports, so any type of disruptions are of concern, especially the retaliatory tariffs that might come back to us,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer. “It’s also important to note that we, as an industry, get young, weaned pigs from Canada that would be affected by those tariffs also, which would add cost to our producers. Those pigs are raised in states like Minnesota and Iowa.”
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC)
Leaders from the NMPF and the USDEC released the following statements today in response to retaliatory measures announced by Mexico, Canada, and China.
“The President believes tariffs are necessary to address the opioid crisis in the U.S. We urge Mexico and Canada to take U.S. concerns seriously,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “Mexico and Canada are valuable trading partners that American agriculture depends on, and trade with those countries is critical to the well-being of dairy farmers. Let’s focus on getting the concerns ironed out quickly so we can focus on bolstering these critical trade relationships. Then, let’s put those tariff tools to work, driving change with the trading partner that’s brushed off U.S. concerns for far too long — the European Union.”
“Exports are fundamental to the health of the U.S. dairy industry. One day’s worth of milk production out of every six is destined for international consumers, and U.S. dairy sales to Mexico, Canada, and China account for 51% of our total global exports. That’s a lot at stake,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “Dairy farmers and manufacturers are counting on a swift resolution to this impasse and urge a redoubling of efforts at the negotiating table to find a workable way forward that addresses U.S. national security concerns while also preserving export flows that are vital to supporting American farmers and workers. We’re eager to focus on working with the administration on expanding global opportunities for American dairy products in ways that build on the existing base of sales to our trading partners.”
Industry Groups
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
AEM is the nation’s largest organization representing agricultural equipment manufacturers and producers. At Commodity Classic in Denver, AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg discussed the tariffs from the Trump administration and its impact on farmers and the ag manufacturing industry.
“Tariffs are taxes on American companies, on American farmers, on American workers,“ he said. ”They will drive up the cost of making equipment in the U.S. They will make us less competitive in the global marketplace. They are inflationary, so they will most likely drive up inflation, which is bad news for equipment manufacturers, for farmers, and for our customers.
“One thing to note is that the president is very keen to talk about trade deficits. He’s laser focused on reducing trade deficits. We actually have a trade surplus as an industry. For Canada, we send about $10 billion worth of goods north of the border. We import about $3.5. billion, and so for us, obviously 25% tariffs on equipment attachments, parts, and components going into Canada is going to have a pretty significant impact on our bottom line,” Eideberg continued.
Later in the conversation, Eideberg addressed the reciprocal tariffs from China and Canada.
“I think it’s fair to say that equipment manufacturers always try to source inputs close to their manufacturing operations. It just makes good business sense. But there are certain parts and components that cannot be sourced at scale inside the U.S. And so we rely on imports, and if those imports become more expensive, they’ll become doubly more expensive. Because if there’s a 25% tariff on a component that’s going into the U.S., and that component has, let’s say, aluminum in it, the aluminum is also more expensive because of tariffs on aluminum. So it just keeps going. Costs will keep going up, up, up, up. That, we believe, does not accomplish the stated policy goal of the administration, which is to bolster U.S. manufacturing and support American farmers and ranchers. It will have the opposite effect.
“Prime Minister Trudeau, when he first announced list one — that’s the first tranche of retaliatory tariffs that Canada would impose on the U.S. It includes quite a bit of agriculture equipment,” Eideberg continued. “...We know that list two will include pretty much all of the equipment that our member companies make. And so, again, Canada being our largest export market, that’s going to really hurt equipment manufacturers sending equipment north of the border. Then obviously it’s going to hurt Canadian equipment manufacturers who are relying on inputs from the U.S. It’s going to hurt Canadian farmers who are buying a lot of their farm equipment from the U.S., and obviously it will hurt American farmers because some of the retaliatory tariffs will be placed on American commodities. So it’s going to hit our industry equally hard, both sides of the border. There’s no doubt about that.”
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI)
TFI is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers, and trading firms.
“The Fertilizer Institute remains committed to working with the Trump administration to promote a strong, resilient fertilizer industry that supports U.S. agriculture and ensures affordable food prices for American families. A stable and affordable supply of fertilizers is critical to maintaining the global competitiveness of U.S. farmers, strengthening rural economies, and keeping food prices in check,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch.
“TFI continues to urge the Administration to provide a strategic carveout for Canadian fertilizers from these tariffs, including through designation as critical minerals. With the spring planting season fast approaching and U.S. agriculture continuing to face serious headwinds, maintaining reliable and cost-effective fertilizer supply chains is essential to ensuring a productive harvest and protecting American farmers from unnecessary financial strain.
“Potash is an irreplaceable component of modern agricultural production, and the U.S. has historically sourced nearly all the potash used by farmers from international markets. Potash deposits are geographically specific and mine development in the U.S. is time intensive and costly,” Rosenbusch continued.
“Additionally, Canada supplies U.S. growers with nearly 10% of their nitrogen fertilizer needs, accounting for 25% of total nitrogen fertilizer imports, and nearly 20% of sulfur consumed by U.S. farmers and others.
“An open, fair, predictable, and transparent trade environment between the U.S. and Canada is vital to supporting a strong, competitive fertilizer industry that meets the needs of American growers. Restrictions on this critical cross-border trade will drive up costs for farmers, which could ultimately be felt at the grocery store by consumers.
“TFI recognizes that these tariffs are part of a broader policy agenda, and we encourage ongoing dialogue between the U.S. and Canada. We thank President Trump for his continued engagement with the fertilizer industry and the agriculture community, and we remain committed to working with the administration and Congress to ensure the long-term security and stability of the U.S. fertilizer supply chain.”
State Agriculture Organizations
Illinois Farm Bureau (ILFB)
ILFB was established in 1916 and serves farmers of Illinois, the third largest exporter of agricultural commodities in the U.S. Total exports from Illinois in 2023 were estimated at $81 billion, of which $13.7 billion was attributed to agriculture.
“Illinois Farm Bureau urges President Trump to honor the USMCA, which was successfully negotiated during his last term, and to find other methods to combat illegal drugs and secure our border,” said ILFB President Brian Duncan. “We remain deeply concerned with the use of tariffs and their potential to spark retaliation on America’s farmers. Illinois farmers’ products — from grains and feed, corn, soybeans, ethanol, beef, pork, and more — rely on access to foreign markets and will undoubtedly be impacted by these new tariffs either through increased prices or decreased market access. This uncertainty coupled with an already struggling farm economy has farmers worried as we head into planting season.”
Illinois Soybean Association (ISA)
The Illinois Soybean Association represents more than 43,000 soybean farmers in the state. ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean farmers through promotion, advocacy, research, and education.
“Farmer members of the Illinois Soybean Association take pride in our ability to deliver a high-quality product, consistently and reliably,” said ISA Chairman Ron Kindred, an Atlanta, Ill. farmer. “Sixty percent of Illinois-produced soybeans are exported out of state, tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada mean farm families will face damaging impacts from disruptions in our trade relationships. During a down ag economy, when farmers across the state have not fully recovered market volumes from the 2018 trade war, these tariffs will further exacerbate economic hardship.”
Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA)
ICGA is a 7,500-member grassroots organization, serving members and corn producers across the state and lobbying on agricultural issues.
“Iowa’s corn farmers rely heavily on our trade channels both for imports and exports,” said IGCA President Stu Swanson. “We trust that the Trump administration will work quickly to negotiate trade agreements in the interest of American farmers. An ag product that can easily be sold within the U.S. today is higher ethanol blends, specifically E15. We encourage the administration to grant immediate access for year-round E15 nationwide.”
Indiana Soybean Association (ISA)
The ISA Membership and Policy Committee works to enhance the viability of Indiana soybean farmers through the advocacy and promotion of state and federal policies for its over 600 members.
“As Indiana’s soybean and corn farmers begin to prepare for the spring planting season, they are closely watching lower bushel prices and higher input costs,” said Warren, Ind., farmer Brian Warpup, chair of the ISA’s Membership and Policy Committee. “This year’s crop was already shaping up to be a challenge, but with the added complication of increased tariffs, farmers fear that fewer exports will lead to higher stocks and even lower bushel prices.”
Indiana Corn Growers Association
The Indiana Corn Growers Association works with state and federal governments to develop and promote sound policies that benefit Indiana corn farmers. The board consists of nine farmer-directors who work on behalf of more than 700 members statewide.
“We urge Indiana’s congressional delegation to work with the Trump administration to resolve these trade issues so that Indiana farmers can continue to export corn and soybeans to critical markets such as China, Mexico, and Canada,” said Indiana Corn Growers Association President Chris Cherry, a farmer from New Palestine, Indiana.
Kansas Farmers Union (KFU)
The Kansas Farmers Union serves farmer members across the state of Kansas.
“This isn’t a game. It’s not a reality TV show. It’s reality,” said KFU President Nick Levendofsky. “Nothing fun or funny about this, when you’ve got markets that have been built up for years and decades, frankly, that are now being put into question and people are wondering if they’re going to be able to raise the crop, make it work, pay for things that they need to pay for, make a living, all of those things.... It’s a global market, but when you’re upsetting your neighbors, your biggest trading partners that are easy-access markets, then you’re cutting your nose off to spite your face, is what you’re doing, and then you get the retaliatory tariffs, which then causes us to pay more for all these products.”
Montana Farmers Union (MFU)
The Montana Farmers Union is a grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the agricultural way of life. Its membership is made up of folks who support rural communities and family farms and ranches.
“The U.S. is the largest beef exporter in the world. We’re also one of the largest beef importers in the world. Tariffs hit us both ways on that,” said MFU President Walter Schweitzer. “...Most of our feeder calves go north to the border to be finished, fed out, and many of them come back to the United States to be processed. Most of our inputs for growing our feed come from Canada. So, these tariffs would have a very adverse impact on the cattle ranchers of Montana.”
North Dakota Soybean Growers Association (NDSGA)
The North Dakota Soybean Growers Association is a statewide, not-for-profit, member-driven organization affiliated with the ASA.
“We haven’t really recovered from the first trade war with China,” said NDSGA President Justin Sherlock. “And right now, producers have very little to fall back on. This is the time of year when most family farm operations are working to renew their operating loans with their lending institutions, with their banks. So, you know, are the banks going to continue to provide lending services to us if we can’t guarantee that we can pay back our operating loans? ...This could potentially really hurt a lot of family farms, and you know, whether they’re able to stay in business in 2025.”
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU)
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is a division of National Farmers Union. RMFU’s 20,000 member families live in communities across Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
“We’re really good at raising healthy, safe, and cost-effective food to the point that we produce way more than this country needs,” RMFU President Chad Franke said. “To say that we’re just going to sell it domestically is like saying you should put 20 gallons of gas in your 15-gallon gas tank. Farmers and ranchers already have enough uncertainty in their daily lives. They don’t need any more.”
Was this page helpful?
Agriculture