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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Ottawa and Beijing have unveiled their opening salvos in retaliation to Trump's tariffs and threats. While ag features prominently in both countries’ tariff lists, the responses are measured, analysts say.
President Donald Trump may have put Canadian and Mexican tariffs on ice, but import-dependent industries serving farmers are still feeling some tariff whiplash and face new duties on China.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance unveiled its response to new U.S. duties that went into effect Tuesday morning, announcing new tariffs beginning next week on agriculture machinery, but leaving soybeans and other agricultural commodities unaffected.
Beijing recently approved a tranche of new gene-edited and genetically modified crop varieties and said it will accelerate breeding to boost yields – the latest chapter in a long-running drive for greater food self-sufficiency.
Russia’s threat to pull out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative continues to threaten global supplies of wheat and corn, but China would be one of the biggest losers would be China if that happens.
Some of the top U.S. ag leaders are quietly discussing potential ramifications if China ramps up its aggression toward Taiwan and Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai argued against lifting tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods Wednesday, saying it would not do much to ease inflation and would remove key leverage she has in negotiations with China.
Farmers, ranchers and ag exporters hoping President Joe Biden will engage Chinese President Xi Jinping Monday evening on trade tariffs or supply chain problems will likely be disappointed. Neither topic is on Biden’s agenda for the virtual meeting, according to a senior White House official who previewed expectations for the conversation to reporters.
Democratic leaders are pushing for House passage of President Joe Biden’s package of social and climate spending priorities this week, while the Senate is set to debate an Agriculture Department nominee who will be key to carrying out the administration's climate policy.
