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Chicago, IL — As more reporting is released and Illinois’ agriculture leaders sound the alarm on the potential impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs on our state’s farmers, the Democratic Party of Illinois released the following statement:
“Trump’s tariffs crusade will fall on the backs of working families across Illinois–including farmers and agricultural workers who help feed this nation, and who rely on international exports to make their living. Illinois Democrats know how important our rural and farming communities are, we are listening to farmers’ concerns and we are not sitting quietly while the Trump White House threatens to devastate their livelihoods.”
Trump isn’t going to make corporate power players pay for his tariff policies–Illinois’ farmers will.
Farmers will face hardship under ill-advised tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico:
- WAND: Illinois corn growers respond to tariffs on largest trading partners
- IL Corn Growers Association President and Waterloo, IL farmer Garrett Hawkins said each of these countries is an important market for U.S. corn farmers, especially Canada and Mexico who are the largest market for ethanol and corn.
- My Journal Courier: Farmers facing tight margins as fertilizer prices continue climb
- “We have to worry about the threat of 25% tariffs against Canadian goods,” said Linville, who noted Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash. “These tariffs will have real effects on the farm side if they get implemented.”
- IPM News: How Donald Trump’s tariffs have — and could — affect Illinois agriculture
- Illinois was the number one state in the nation for producing soybeans in 2023, and number two for corn, according to annual figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- A large share of those crops are sold to other countries, notably China, which is the largest buyer of US soybeans, and third largest buyer of its corn.
- But when the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Chinese goods in 2018, China retaliated with tariffs on U-S crop exports, especially soybeans.
- Joe Janzen is an assistant professor Agricultural and Consumer Economics agricultural economist at the University of Illinois.
- He says the tariffs caused Chinese buyers to look elsewhere.
- Farm Week Now: Mexico, Canada tariffs delayed
- Although encouraged by the agreements with Canada and Mexico to pause tariffs, Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan said he was concerned about harm to Illinois farmers as negotiations continue and uncertainty remains surrounding tariffs and the potential for retaliation, which makes it difficult to plan as farmers gear up for planting season.
- “Illinois Farm Bureau supports a rules-based approach to trade, and our farmers simply cannot afford the uncertainty of a potential trade war. Farm income has declined for a second straight year, and we know from experience that farmers and rural communities are the first to suffer from retaliatory tariffs,” Duncan said.
