Many U.S. agriculture groups are responding to the reciprocal tariffs announced by President Donald Trump by calling for a swift resolution to the trade conflict. That includes leaders of the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association.
“Approximately 15 percent of the U.S. corn crop is exported every year, and international markets are critical to our bottom line,” says National Corn Growers Association President Ken Hartman Jr. ‘So, we are well aware of the potential effects that these new tariffs could have on corn growers who are already facing a troubling economic landscape. We encourage productive negotiations and have supplied the administration with ideas for removing barriers to U.S. corn, ethanol and other corn products as a path to help rectify trade imbalances and help corn growers be more competitive.”
Hartman added that “Brazil, for example, could eliminate the 18% tariffs it puts on imports of ethanol, which is a particularly egregious practice and one that we are pleased to see the president address. The country should move to quickly come to the negotiating table so that it can rectify this situation.”
Also, the ten percent baseline tariffs on all countries and the individualized tariff rates on about 60 countries impact all of U.S. soy’s top ten markets. “We’re hoping that from obstacles can come opportunity and that the administration will swiftly work with the affected countries to create new market opportunities for U.S. soy and other U.S. products in these markets so these higher tariffs can be removed. That includes pursuing a Phase 2 Trade Agreement with China,” says American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland. The group also wants a quick update to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement as well.