Many Congressional Republicans have raised concerns about the potential long-term trade war and the impact on American farmers as President Donald Trump prepares to announce a new wave of tariffs.
Trump is expected to be tasked with imports from all countries as early as Wednesday in a move that could hit the agricultural community particularly violently. Several GOP lawmakers from Capitol Hill are seeking last-minute sculptures to blunt the impact of those tariffs.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) told NBC News that he had asked the White House to exempt certain products that are important to the U.S. agriculture industry, such as fertilizer and peat moss.
“It pointed out what I wanted,” he said. “I talk to people who listen to me… They were really good about input.”
Thompson also said he hopes Congress doesn’t need to bail out farmers with emergency aid packages, as he did during the first Trump administration. But he said, “We’re ready to do that.”
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Sen. Chuck Grassley of R-Iowa said it is likely that a waiver of certain products would be required.
“The only thing I can tell you now is on Cali,” Grassley said when asked about Trump’s tariffs. The US reliance on Canada depends largely on Cali, Grassley said the exemption was “we have to ask for.”
R-Okla House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Cole showed the gap between agriculture and non-farm communities.
He said farmers in his state “export a lot,” so they are concerned about retaliatory tariffs. However, people outside the agricultural community were “mainly favorable” of tariffs, he said, and he urged him to take a “wait and see” approach.
R-La. Sen. John Kennedy of the company appears to be hesitant about the impact from the tariffs, saying there could be some negative consequences. But he said he would remain open.
“I’ve heard economists talk about the apocalypse, and I’ve heard economists say it doesn’t affect them,” Kennedy said, adding that he understands Trump’s stance.
“He’s the point of saying why would you like to use our wealth to sell in America? Let’s build your business in America. And I’ll get it. And it will probably work. The problem is, in the long run, we’re all dead.
On the democratic side, Sen. Rafael Warnock, D-ga. said Georgia farmers are worried about the impact of the long-term trade war.
“When I talk to farmers all over Georgia, they’re deeply concerned,” he said. “This doesn’t help. It’s a difficult business to begin with. The margins of profitability are low. There are many things you can’t control, like the weather.
Trump said Sunday that the mutual tariffs he is due to announce this week include all countries and not limited to small groups in about 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade gap with the United States.
On Tuesday, a Democrat group led by Virginia Sen. Tim Kane will try to force a vote on measures to end the emergency declaration Trump is using to impose tariffs on Canada.
“We look forward to the act as a vote so that all senators can answer this question publicly, Kane said in a statement.
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