Eddie: Trade War Weighing On The Mind Of NW Hay Growers
It’s been over a year since the trade war with China started, and with the possibility of additional tariffs, and retaliatory tariffs starting next month, many in the Ag community are concerned. Andrew Eddie, Vice President of the Washington state Hay Growers Association said like the rest of the Ag sector, trade, or lack thereof, is a big topic.
“It takes a toll when you’re trying to figure out where to move it, and your exporters or your buyers are saying we can’t take it, or it’s going to be hauled out at the end of the year, we don’t have any demand for it, we just have a place for it to go.”
Eddie added after the slow start many growers say to the 2019 season, the uncertainty of trade, and what it may look like in the coming months is weighing on the minds of growers, big and small.
“You’re constantly thinking, well, if I can’t send it there, what am I supposed to do with it, the longer you sit on it, the more often than not the more money it costs you.”
On August 1st President Trump announced via Twitter an additional tariff on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods important to the U.S. if a trade deal is not reached by early next month.
China says it will take appropriate actions if those tariffs go into effect.
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