trade

On Thursday, President Trump implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum, an action that had been anticipated since last week.  Today's update explores recent news items that highlight the potential negative impact the executive branch action could have on the U.S. farm sector.  Although Canada and Mexico were exempt from the new tariffs, if other countries, particularly China, take retaliatory trade measures based on U.S. trade policy, negative short-term and long-term impacts could be expected for U.S. farmers.

Wall Street Journal writer William Mauldin reported on Monday that, "President Donald Trump on Monday sought to use his threat to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum imports as leverage to extract concessions from North American trading partners, while his party’s congressional leaders worked to derail a proposal that they said could spark a trade war."

A FarmPolicyNews update last month discussed executive branch implementation of U.S. import tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, as well as the possibility of future implementation of import barriers on steel and aluminum.  That update also included a look at the potential of retaliatory measures, particularly by China, that could have a negative impact on U.S. agricultural exports and farm income.  On Thursday, President Trump signaled that he plans to levy the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports soon.  Today's update looks at recent news items that highlight the negative impact trade retaliation measures could have on U.S. agriculture if the President follows through on his import tariff promise.

Today's update looks at recent USDA trade highlights from calendar year 2017, and then turns to USDA's export projections for corn and soybeans in the 2018-19 marketing year.  

Following the implementation of U.S. import tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, more recent news regarding potential executive branch trade barriers imposed on steel and aluminum imports have caused concern among some American agricultural groups.  China is a leading producer of solar panels and steel, and is also a key export destination for U.S. agricultural exports.  As U.S. farm income potentially languishes for another year, export markets have become increasingly important to the value of U.S. crop production.  Some observers have cautioned that agricultural products could be targeted by China in retaliation for additional U.S. trade restrictions.

Last week, a Bloomberg news article stated that, "Commodities would be particularly exposed if U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on foreign solar panels and washing machines sparks a tit-for-tat trade war with nations around the world...If China wanted to hit back, soybeans could be a weapon."

Financial Times writer Shawn Donnan reported on Monday that, "Talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement are moving too slowly, Donald Trump’s trade tsar complained on Monday as he rejected a Canadian proposal to rethink the rules governing the auto trade on the continent."

Jacob M. Schlesinger reported on Tuesday at The Wall Street Journal Online that, "Eleven Pacific Rim nations agreed to forge a new trade bloc [TPP] that excludes the U.S. on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump signed an order to block certain cheap Asian imports [Chinese makers of solar panels and South Korean producers of washing machines], illustrating the battle lines of a new global trade climate."