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Farmers for Free Trade says tariffs will hurt

The president of Farmers for Free Trade says a thirty day pause on proposed 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada is good news.

Bob Hemesath, who farms in northeast Iowa, tells Brownfield he still has concerns.

“Hopeful that they come to some sort of agreement with the other two countries that we can hold off on putting these tariffs on.”

He says the tariffs would have wide-reaching demand impacts at a time many producers are already hurting.

“Both are really good trading partners.”  He says, “Mexico’s number one in corn, we sell ethanol to Canada, among other things.  A lot of pork goes into Mexico.  So, we were concerned what the effects on those markets would be.”

Hemesath says tariffs on inputs like Canadian potash and Chinese chemicals will also impact the bottom line.

“Any disruption is going to hurt on the farmgate level.  He says, “Our inputs, you put 25% tariff on top of already high fertilizer costs, and that’s a real hurt to the farmer when he goes to put his crop in.”

Hemesath says new tariffs could jeopardize existing trade deals like USMCA, so he’s hopeful any tariff implementation is short lived.   

AUDIO: Bob Hemesath – Farmers for Free Trade

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