The U.S. Trade Representative is considering extra fees on Chinese-built ships. Soy groups are concerned, saying it will take a lot of money out of the hands of their farmers.
Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition says “Made in America” runs in a farmer’s blood, but warns these ship fees could make it or break it for most.
“Things like barges and tow boats, dredges, those all have to be built in the United States. There’s a law that that stipulates that, it’s called the Jones Act, and we were so we’ve been long supportive of that. So we have this track record of supporting the domestic ship building industry. We think that certainly has room to improve over time, and we applaud the administration for pursuing that. Again, it’s all about the time horizon for execution and doing it in a way that doesn’t harm other made-in-America industries.”
Steenhoek says if these fees go through, ships going from the Pacific Northwest to China could see costs increase up to nearly $12.30 a bushel, which would ultimately get passed on to the farmer. He says if farmers then passed those costs to consumers, buyers would find sellers in places like Brazil or Argentina.
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OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
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Ben Kurtzman with American Farmland Trust discusses the growing pressure on farmland and ranchland and the steps being taken to help conserve farms and ranches across the country ,as unrest in the Middle East adds more obstacles for producers.
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Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas congressman Dan Glickman joined RFD News to share his outlook on agricultural policy, bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges facing farmers today.
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