Tariffs on Canadian goods having a 'devastating effect,' U.S. farmers say

Lauren Scott · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 06, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

American farmers accidental U.S.-imposed tariffs connected Canadian goods are having a "devastating effect" connected the section agriculture assemblage southbound of the border. 

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping caller tariffs for dozens of countries. Canada and Mexico were notably spared successful this round, but erstwhile 25 per cent tariffs connected immoderate Canadian products volition remain. 

Some U.S. farmers accidental the tariffs are already making it harder for producers successful their country, already agelong accustomed to hardship, to marque a living.  

"Most farmers are beauteous utilized to adversary things and situations similar this," Doug Sombke, president of the South Dakota Farmers Union, said. "But I deliberation galore of them were really struck and shocked." 

The tariffs are having a "devastating effect connected some ends" for producers successful the state, who will apt spot the price they're paid for their merchandise spell down amid tariffs and counter-tariffs, even arsenic the outgo of fertilizer and instrumentality rises, said Sombke.

There were already drops successful marketplace prices after Trump announced the latest tariffs this week, helium noted.

"This was conscionable a horrible idea," helium said." Whoever thought that tariffs were bully for the country, they truly don't recognize civics and/or economics precise well." 

Sombke said 90 per cent of the state's potash — which is utilized arsenic a fertilizer and is presently being tariffed astatine 10 per cent — comes from Canada, portion overmuch of its farming instrumentality carries a "made successful Canada" stamp.  

North Dakota Farmers Union vice-president Bob Kuylen also said he's "very frustrated" with the tariffs, informing they could beryllium detrimental to the aboriginal of agriculture successful Manitoba's neighbouring state. 

The 25 per cent alloy tariffs could marque purchases of indispensable workplace instrumentality overmuch much expensive, he told big Marcy Markusa in a Friday interrogation with CBC's Information Radio.

For example, helium says Canada makes good-quality no-till drills — specialized equipment that plants seeds without disturbing the soil — but their $1-million terms tag would outgo a U.S. farmer $250,000 much with the tariff.

"That's a heck of a hit," helium said. 

'Time machine' needed to undo damage: economist 

North of the border, Canadian agriculture economists interest that the U.S. tariffs person already done irreparable harm to the economies of some countries.

Ryan Cardwell, a prof with the University of Manitoba's section of agribusiness and cultivation economics, says a "time machine" mightiness beryllium the lone mode to hole it. 

"The grade of uncertainty that has been created by the past fewer months of argumentation alteration successful the United States, I deliberation has done imperishable damage," helium said.

"It's each precise troubling and creates a batch of uncertainty and barriers to commercialized that person not existed for a precise agelong clip betwixt Canada and the U.S."

He said Trump's "chaotic commercialized policy" has shaken predictability for investors, which volition inevitably dilatory economical maturation successful Canada, the U.S. and astir each countries that commercialized with the two.

"People, investors, farmers, producers present person little certainty. They are little consenting to undertake the benignant of concern that generates economical growth," helium said. 

It's inactive imaginable that Trump could reverse the tariffs yet again, but Cardwell worries it mightiness beryllium excessively late. 

"Even if these tariffs vanish tomorrow, that uncertainty inactive exists," helium said. "I don't spot a mode to crook that around."

In North Dakota, wherever Trump took nearly 68 per cent of the vote in November's election, Kuylen said it feels arsenic if the president is "fighting with nutrient each the time." 

"We should beryllium eating good alternatively of warring with our food, with each of our friends and neighbours to the northbound and the southbound of us." 

Sombke says he's disappointed to spot Trump — who was backed by 63 per cent of voters in South Dakota — turn adjacent trading allies into adversaries. 

Instead, helium wants to spot farmers "visit with your neighbours" crossed planetary borders. 

"What we request to bash is find ways to enactment unneurotic to assistance each other, arsenic a satellite market, alternatively than spell done these tit-for-tat types of situations that are ne'er adjuvant for anyone."

"We've go specified enemies conscionable due to the fact that of this 1 man."