President Trump’s trade policy officially goes into effect

“This is our turn to prosper.”

President Trump has officially announced the implementation of his tariffs.

His plan includes immediate reciprocal tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners. He announced that he will impose 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts, expected to take effect tomorrow, excluding Canada and Mexico.

During his announcement, he declared reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries, including 34 percent on China.

Major farm groups like the American Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union, and NASDA made a last-minute pitch to urge President Trump to reconsider tariffs. However, the shrimp industry is praising the move, hoping tariffs will help save generational businesses and boost domestic supply.

Related Stories
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discusses the state’s latest efforts to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching Texas.
Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
The biggest development of 2025 in agricultural law and taxation was the signing into law on July 4 of the Trump Administration’s landmark legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA)
House Agriculture Committee Chairman “GT” Thompson is pushing a “Farm Bill 2.0.”
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.
The federal government’s status is far from the only factor moving the markets on Friday. Two critical reports released today on producer inflation and the status of the U.S. cattle herd are also top of mind.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Chef and influencer Marcia Smart joined us to discuss Italian-inspired beef dishes, nutrition for active lifestyles, and how global events shape home cooking.
The USDA says the framework is about “ending abusive government overreach” and “protecting farmers, families, and private property.”
Farm numbers still favor small operations, but production, resilience, and risk management are increasingly concentrated among fewer, larger farms.
Wed, 2/18/26 – 7:30 PM ET
While access to China remains uncertain, U.S. beef exporters are finding resilience and opportunity in other global markets, which could help maintain industry value and expand export opportunities.