(Editor’s note: Shortly after WLJ press time, President Donald Trump expanded exemptions through April 2 on Canada and Mexico tariffs for products covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement established under Trump’s first term.)
On March 4, 25% tariffs were imposed on Mexican and Canadian imports, though Canadian energy imports were levied at a lower rate of 10%. The tariff previously placed on China in February was also doubled to 20%.
On March 6, President Donald Trump announced tariffs on most goods imported from Mexico were on hold for a month after discussions with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum. A one-month exemption was also granted on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers following conversations with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. China and Canada each announced retaliatory measures following the tariffs, with China imposing additional 10-15% tariffs on U.S. ag imports and Canada adding 25% tariffs on more than $30 billion of U.S. imports, including numerous ag products.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) USA supports the new tariffs and has called for additional tariffs on beef imports from Australia, New Zealand and South America. “R-CALF USA may be the only major agriculture organization that is publicly supporting tariffs,” the group said in a statement. “Both major farm groups have publicly denounced these tariffs and other groups are maintaining silence.”
The American Farm Bureau Federation expressed concerns about the toll tariffs could take on rural America. Meanwhile, the U.S. Meat Export Federation warned that tariffs could affect competition in key export markets such as China, Mexico and Canada.
