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Friday, March 29, 2024

Farm Groups Complain About Trump’s Tariffs on Mexico

 

Farm groups within the United States are complaining about President Trump’s decision to announce new tariffs on a top buyer of their pork, corn, and wheat.

Specifically, on May 30, the President stated that 5% duties could be placed on all imports from Mexico starting June 10, rising in increments to 25% in October unless Mexico stops the flow of immigrants into the U.S.

“We appeal to President Trump to reconsider plans to open a new trade dispute with Mexico,” David Herring, President of the National Pork Producers Council said in an email statement. “American pork producers cannot afford retaliatory tariffs from its largest export market, tariffs which Mexico will surely implement.”

“Amid a perfect storm of challenges in farm country, we cannot afford the uncertainty this action would bring,” National Corn Growers Association President Lynn Chrisp said in an email statement. Adding that the president should “reconsider using tariffs to address nontrade issues.”

CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, Tom Sleight, said the Mexican market is “very important to our products,” and farmers will be watching the president closely moving forward.  Mexico is the largest market for U.S. corn.

“Dairy farmers and dairy industry were looking forward to a resumption of robust trade with Mexico, our No. 1 market, which could be negatively impacted if tariffs are assessed,” Tom Vilsack, CEO, of the U.S. Dairy Export Council and former secretary of agriculture, stated in an email.