Tariffs are a big part of President Trump’s agenda this term, and it will be something Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will have to closely manage for agriculture.
Dairy specialists warn Mexico, Canada, and China are critical export markets for U.S. dairy.
To underscore the importance of those, about 40 percent of all of the dairy product exports by value goes to those three markets. So, those are vitally important for not just now and in the short term, but for our future growth opportunities,” said Chuck Nicholson.
Just last week, President Trump ordered government agencies to study reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade. Their reports are due on April 1st.
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China is making strategic moves by purchasing more soybeans from Argentina and may soon follow the EU and reopen its market to Brazilian chicken exports.
Farmers should watch for soybean export rebounds with harvest, while corn and wheat shipments remain strong and sorghum demand struggles.
Rollins says the new trade relationship with Taiwan, which is committed to buying a significant amount of U.S. soy, could not come at a better time for farmers facing financial strain.
The three-point plan was announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
