Tariffs
Tariffs, also known as taxes on imported goods, are a tool used by President Donald Trump as part of his overall economic vision. As U.S. agriculture navigates tariffs and their implications on trade, commodity prices, input costs and more, ag economists and farmers remain divided on the effectiveness of tariffs and what the changes mean for the broader economy and livelihoods.
Produce businesses should look for indicators about future negotiations while preparing for sudden shifts in trade policy, says Dante Galeazzi, Texas International Produce Association president and CEO.
In a Wednesday morning press conference, ahead of Trump announcing his global tariff plan, Sheinbaum says Mexico will “announce a comprehensive program, not a tit for tat on tariffs,” but added, “we have a plan to strengthen the economy under any circumstance.”
Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada’s report on the impact of U.S. tariffs urges quick government action to support the trade-exposed sector.
With tariffs and trade in focus again, a recent AgWeb poll asked farmers if they support President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs as a negotiating strategy.
The majority of respondents in the March Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor agree the U.S. is currently in a trade war, but who wins? Ag economists say it’s not the U.S., Canada or Mexico but rather Brazil that could come out on top.
Rachel Laenen continues her family’s nearly 160-year farming legacy, navigating sustainability, consumer trends and potential trade challenges in California’s Ventura County.
Tariff whiplash is consuming the commodity markets — and the possible impact is stirring up quite the debate. At present, President Trump says he’s sticking to his plan to impose additional tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China starting April 2.
If tariffs are imposed on fresh products from Canada and Mexico, there could be long-term effects to consumption and access to fresh fruits and vegetables, says IFPA Vice President of U.S. Government Relations Rebeckah Freeman Adcock.
Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia cites domestic food security and harm to rural economies.
Mexico’s president said on Tuesday the country will respond to U.S. tariffs with a 25% tariff on U.S. goods, but she will hold off announcing the targeted products until Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will go into effect on March 4 and threatened an extra 10% duty on Chinese imports.
Trump said Monday that his planned 25% tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the U.S. “are going ahead on time, on schedule,” meaning the duties would take effect on March 4 at the conclusion of a one-month suspension.
Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, discusses the impact proposed 25% tariffs on imported produce could have on the state and the country.
The full impact of tariffs remains uncertain, raising more questions than answers as the industry navigates ongoing challenges and policy shifts, says Erin Mittelstaedt, CEO for The FruitGuys.
What could tariff wars mean for global fresh produce trading partners? It was a key conversation at the recent Fruit Logistica trade show, where The Packer spoke with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Ron Lemaire.
“It’s unlikely that changes in tariffs will impact prices headed into the Super Bowl, however, we’ll see how it plays out in the coming weeks,” Dr. Michael Swanson says.
Just hours before the tariffs were set to take effect, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the news on X, and President Donald Trump later confirmed. Mexico is the top destination for U.S. ag exports. The announcement from Canada came later on Monday.
“While we appreciate the border security issues apparently motivating the Trump administration, rival growers of specialty crops outside of the U.S. will move quickly to seize the new business opportunities created by these tariffs to sell into the Canadian, Mexican and Chinese marketplaces,” said Western Growers’ President and CEO Dave Puglia.
Following President Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Canada announced its own 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. imports. Mexico also announced its own retaliatory measures, but no specifics were unveiled as of Sunday morning.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump justified the tariffs as a response to what he described as excessive migration, drug trafficking and unfair trade practices. While he suggested the tariff rate could further increase, he indicated a decision on whether oil imports would be exempt would come soon.
At the National Potato Council’s recent Potato Expo 2025, tariffs and trade were among the hot topics of discussion in education sessions and on the show floor.
Imposing tariffs would lead to “inflation in the supermarket,” says the president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
President-elect Donald Trump has talked about increasing tariffs on foreign goods, arguing that such import taxes would keep manufacturing jobs in the U.S., shrink the federal deficit and help lower food prices.