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Border ag state braces for trade impacts

An agribusiness leader says he is concerned about the immediate impact tariffs imposed by President Trump will have on border states.

Michigan Agri-Business Association President Chuck Lippstreu tells Brownfield, “Michigan is a North American hub for trade and transit and a big part of that is our proximity as a border state to Canada when you think about the number of agricultural and food products that move across the border in both directions.”

A recent Fitch Ratings report found Michigan is a top importer from Canada, Mexico, and China, and could see the largest economic impacts from tariffs, followed by Illinois.

Lippstreu says he’s not giving up hope on a resolution before duties are fully implemented.

“We’re encouraging everyone to keep a clear head and deliberate focus, and our hope is that these tariffs aren’t going to go into effect or won’t last long if they do,” he says. “We understand there are additional negotiations happening today, and, there is a lot of concern out there about what the outcome could be.”

Mexico’s president has announced the two countries have worked to delay the tariffs for one month as leaders work on security and trade.

President Trump is meeting with leaders from Canada today, which has announced plans for retaliatory tariffs. 

A 2022 USDA Economic Research Report found direct U.S. agricultural export losses due to retaliatory tariffs totaled more than $27 billion from 2018 through the end of 2019 during the previous Trump Administration.

AUDIO: Chuck Lippstreu