Tariff Feedback: Chuck Grassley and Canadian leaders respond to the possibility of tariffs

25 percent tariffs are just days away for Canada and Mexico, which are both major trade partners of the United States.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says while there could be retaliatory tariffs, this is what the people decided.

“The country has turned protectionist and mercantilist, and I don’t think that’s good. But we did have an election decided that the country likes what Trump’s trying to do.”

Canadian leaders have also been vocal about the tariff threats, saying the energy markets could be in for a shock if they go through.

“Our entire trade surplus is due to oil and gas. We export at enormous discounts to market price. Depending on the time, we sell a barrel of oil to the Americans for 10 to 30 or 40 percent cheaper than the world price. If President Trump wants to make America richer, the last thing he should want to do is block the under-priced Canadian energy from going into his marketplace,” said Pierre Poilievre, the current Canadian Conservative Party Leader.

Poilievre is widely believed to be Canada’s next Prime Minister. President Trump has given a Saturday start date for the 25 percent tariffs if Canada and Mexico do not cooperate with his immigration plan.

Related Stories
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney discusses the latest developments in the Supreme Court, trade tariffs, and the future of the USMCA under President Donald Trump.
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
Freight volatility increasingly determines export margins, making logistics costs as important as price in marketing decisions.
China’s beef policy risk stems from domestic volatility, making export demand inherently unstable. Jake Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on cattle markets, risk management, and producer sentiment.
USDA flash corn sales, Cattle on Feed and Inventory reports, and beef packer antitrust concerns dominate January agricultural market news.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Mason McGuire with the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association recaps this year’s event and looks ahead to the premium sale in April.
FBN co-founder Charles Baron previews the upcoming Farmer2Farmer event and how technology and AI are shaping the industry, offering growers practical insights and farmer-led strategies for modern agriculture.
Farm Bureau Economist Faith Parum discusses the latest Farm Bill proposal and the path ahead for Congress and U.S. agriculture.
The Ranger Road Fire spreads from the Oklahoma Panhandle into Kansas as high winds and red flag conditions persist
University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold discusses the ongoing measles outbreak in the United States and the importance of vaccination awareness on this week’s Rural Health Matters.