Will This Round of Tariffs Help Farmers—Or Repeat the Last Trade War’s Mistakes?

“To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States. Tariffs will go on external product on April 2nd. Have fun!” Donald Trump I am writing to express my concerns about the latest tariff announcement and its potential impact on U.S. farmers. While I recognize the importance of strong trade policies, I hope this approach will strengthen American agriculture rather than place additional strain on an industry already facing significant challenges. Over the past several years, U.S. farmers have been hit hard by both trade wars and a decline in USAID food purchases. In 2023, USAID purchased approximately $950 million worth of U.S.-grown commodities for emergency food aid, including wheat, rice, cornmeal, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, beans, and vegetable oil. Additionally, the “Feed the Future” program procured 1.1 million metric tons of food from U.S. farmers, totaling around $2 billion in purchases for global food assistance programs. At the same time, the 2018-2019 Chinese tariffs forced China to shift its soybean imports away from the U.S. to Brazil and Argentina. A similar pattern could emerge with wheat, lentils, and other key crops if US trade policies further limit international market access. With fewer international buyers and reduced government-backed purchases, U.S. farmers are facing: • Price drops from oversupply • Increased financial strain, leading to more farm bankruptcies • Foreign competitors taking over key markets History has shown that when trade disruptions harm U.S. farmers, emergency government subsidies—such as the $28 billion in aid provided during the last trade war—become necessary to prevent farm failures. Rather than creating conditions that force reliance on subsidies or risk the decline of American farmland, I hope this latest trade strategy will open new markets for U.S. farmers rather than further limit their opportunities. I urge you to advocate for policies that protect the livelihoods of American farmers, whether by maintaining USAID food purchases, expanding reliable export markets, or ensuring that trade policies support, rather than weaken, U.S. agriculture. The future of our nation’s food security and rural economies depends on it. Thank you for your time and for your continued support of American farmers. I look forward to your response.