By Clint Thompson
The threat and subsequent implementation of tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico by the Trump Administration triggered hard feelings and retaliatory tariffs. But it’s a necessary evil so support can be rallied for American businesses, including specialty crop farmers in Florida and Georgia.
Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), discussed the ongoing trade war.
“You never want to see conflict with our trading partners, but we’ve got to do something to prop up our American guys or else we’re going to be dependent on those other countries for all our food. That’s what differentiates food from other commodities that have gone offshore over the years. We can’t be reliant on other countries, 100%, for our food,” Butts said.
Seasonal imports have long been a problem impacting fruit and vegetable farmers in the Southeast, specifically in Florida and Georgia.
Background
The Trump Administration imposed 25% tariffs, or taxes, on Mexican and Canadian imports, and doubled the tariff on Chinese products to 20%. Tariffs were implemented as a way to protect U.S. businesses and correct trade imbalances, especially like what is impacting Southeast agriculture.
Tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China took effect on March 4 with China and Canada responding with retaliatory tariffs. Trump ordered a one-month delay of auto tariffs on March 5. On March 6, he signed executive orders temporarily pausing tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods that were compliant with the USMCA, a free trade agreement, until April 2.
“We’ve tried everything we know to level the playing field for our guys; we’ve tried Congress; we’ve had bills introduced by both democrats and republicans to try to level the playing field; we’ve tried USTR; we’ve tried ITC,” Butts said. “We’ve gotten nowhere, so in terms of leveling the playing field for our producers in Georgia, we don’t see these as a bad thing.”