Tariffs and Trade Concerns in Rural America

This week, President Trump, again, delayed raising tariffs on China for another 90 days. The current tariff on imports of most Chinese goods stands at 10%. Tariffs on imports from dozens of other countries also went into effect.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig believes the tariffs are assisting the trade negotiation process.

Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Department of Agriculture: “You know, and they're negotiating all over the place. So I do think this is going to continue to take some time. But we also stressed both to the Secretary and to the Undersecretary that there's a real urgency to this profitability and price. Peace and trade is one component of that. But we got to keep, we got to keep the wheels moving.”

Aaron Lehman of the Iowa Farmers Union is concerned about farmers ability to market commodities in an uncertain trade environment.

Aaron Lehman, President, Iowa Farmers Union: “ Now, we've got issues to work through. We've always had we and we will continue to work for fairer trade, something that makes more sense for farmers in the field and in their pasture, as opposed to just numbers. We want it to make a real difference for farmers. But this approach isn't getting us there, and there's a lot of uncertainty right now.”

Last week, during an appearance at the Iowa State Fair, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins reminded farmers of the litany of trade announcements the White House has made in the last month.

Sec. Brooke Rollins, USDA: “Of course, very significant to this incredible state are the trade deals that keep coming and coming and coming, whether it is the UK, the EU, South Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, just as a few examples, the next round of deals will be announced in the coming week, ushering in a golden age for America.”

 For Market to Market, I’m Peter Tubbs