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Ag groups concerned about Trump tariff threats

Some farmers and farm groups are concerned proposed tariffs would devastate agriculture and rural communities.

On a call with reporters Wednesday, Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish said this is an opportune time to discuss the impact of former President Trump’s campaign promise to impose tariffs if he is elected.

“This is timely because we now have two reports detailing what we already know, that these proposed trade tariffs would be devastating for agriculture exports and by extension, farm income.”

He says one report commissioned by the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association projects a loss of more than 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybean exports to China and nearly 90 percent of corn exports to China under a 60 percent retaliatory tariff scenario.

ASA director Jamie Beyer says her farm in western Minnesota weathered the 2018 China retaliatory tariffs on ag products with soybeans at the center of the tariff target.

“We watched as the value of our soybean crop tanked in the field as we grew it, and as Brazil and Argentina were able to seize on the increase of value to their crops. Pushing both the volume of South American exports and their bushel prices higher.”

Wisconsin Farmers Union president Darin Von Ruden says a trade war would also impact smaller commodities like small grains and fruits and vegetables.

Trump has vowed during his campaign to impose tariffs on all imports, including 60 percent tariffs on goods from China.