Senate Democrats have sent the Trump administration a letter pressing them on their plan to economically assist farmers as the tariff plan is implemented.
The letter, signed by Ranking Member for the Agriculture Committee Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and 14 other Democrats, was addressed to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“As you work to establish priorities for the coming weeks and months, we urge you to move forward as quickly as possible on providing disaster relief for farmers,” the senators said.
President Trump’s 25 percent tariff plan for Mexico and Canada went into effect on Tuesday, marking a shift in relations between the neighboring countries. Experts warn that higher prices, particularly on food, will be hitting Americans in the coming days.
The senators highlighted a prominent concern among farmers with the tariffs: their fertilizer usage.
“Without the timely delivery of economic and disaster assistance, farmers face the prospect of reducing plantings or liquidating assets to remain in business as they head into another potentially difficult growing season,” they said.
Early last month, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) urged Trump to exempt potash from the Canadian tariffs. Potash is a key component of fertilizers and a source of potassium that has a critical role in crop growth and yield quality.
The senators asked the USDA to engage with farmers and make the forthcoming processes easier on them.
The senators said they look forward to working with the Trump administration to help make sure American farmers “succeed.”
On Monday, just before Trump’s tariffs took effect, he noted the changes headed toward American farmers in a post online.
“To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States,” he posted. “Tariffs will go on external product on April 2nd. Have fun!”
