The nation’s largest farm organization says that President Trump’s tariffs will take a toll on American farmers. That is the message from the American Farm Bureau after the President unveiled his tariff plan, which he says will make America prosper.
President Trump issued a ten percent tariff across the board on all imports, in addition to reciprocal tariffs on a long list of trade partners like the EU, China, and Japan. During a press conference after the announcement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that despite the noise, the President’s plan will work.
The President has a large backing from his party, including Republicans on the Agriculture Committees. Senator Chuck Grassley stands by the Administration’s plan to level the trade, but is urging his colleagues to take back control.
“Congress has the constitutional role through the commerce clause trade matters, and we should assume that role again through Congress, instead of through the president. But I’m not holding my breath on when we’ll get that job done.”
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins was front and center during the Rose Garden announcement. The President credited her with bringing down the price of eggs. As for the tariffs, she says the President is leveling the playing field for farmers and ranchers so they can compete globally.
However, the Farm Bureau disagrees. President Zippy Duvall said, “Tariffs will drive up the cost of critical supplies, and retaliatory tariffs will make American-grown products more expensive globally. The combination not only threatens farmers’ competitiveness in the short-term, but it may cause long-term damage by leading to losses in market share.”
He encouraged the Administration to work quickly to resolve trade disagreements and avoid tariffs.
