As a result, Mexico and the EU outlined intentions to place tariffs on American farm products, including pork legs and corn.
Canada revealed its own retaliatory measures yesterday, adding import duties to some U.S. ag products. The Canadian tariffs total about CAD$16.6 billion worth of imports.
Beginning July 1, Canada will add a 10 per cent tariff to such items as American yogurt, coffee, beef products, cucumbers and orange juice. Some U.S. steel and aluminum products will face a 25 per cent import duty.
Grower groups say these tariffs create unnecessary challenges for producers.
“Farmers are busy with planting season but are moving forward without knowing who will buy their crop when it’s harvested later this year,” Kevin Skunes, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said in a statement yesterday. “NCGA urges policymakers to strengthen cooperation with our trading partners and stay at the negotiating table.”
Overall, yesterday was a bad day for farmers and ag equipment manufacturers, said Leah Olson, president of Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada.
“With the Canadian government putting on counter tariffs, yesterday was a very troubling day,” she told Farms.com today. “For farmers, these tariffs are not good news at all. These tariffs will impact our industry – there’s no doubt.”
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