Farm County Waiting To See If Tariffs Return

We are just a week away from tariffs of 25% returning to imports from Canada and Mexico.  Reuters said Canada and Mexico are expected to intensify efforts this week to persuade the Trump administration that efforts to increase border security and curb fentanyl trafficking are working.  Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse said tariffs can be very effective tools, as long as they are used in very limited ways.

“You know, the president has been very strategic in utilizing tariffs," Newhouse noted.  "And it looks like, to me, at least in the short term, very successfully as Mexico and Canada have both stepped up to do more to control the illegal fentanyl trade specifically and the allowing of illegal aliens to cross our borders.”

Newhouse, a member of the House Ag Committee did stress a cautionary note to the Administration, that often when other counties retaliate, U.S. agriculture is the target.

"And particularly now with farmers, facing such difficult challenges, this would be a very difficult time to absorb those retaliatory tariffs, limiting our access to foreign markets.”

The tariffs against our USMCA partners were scheduled to go into effect earlier this month, but both nations were given a one-month reprieve from the tariffs.

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