Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:29 am
Iowa corn growers issued a statement opposing Trump’s Mexico tariff and calling for an end to his trade war.
Iowa Corn Growers Oppose Mexico Tariff
The Iowa Corn Growers Association said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:
In light of President Trump’s tweet regarding his announcement of tariffs on all Mexican imports, the trade hits keep coming on Iowa corn farmers. Yesterday, President Trump tweeted he will declare a five percent tariff on Mexican imports beginning June 10 that will gradually climb higher over the coming months to force Mexico to address border issues.
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With the recent positive announcement related to dropping steel and aluminum tariffs this is not the news we want to hear as Mexico is our top market for U.S. corn. In 2017/2018, corn and corn product exports to Mexico were valued at $3.3 billion. Corn exports to Mexico reached 618 million bushels, 15.7 million tons, up nearly 13 percent from 2016/2017. Add in U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGs), an additional 2.13 million tons of corn bushels are exported to our neighbors.
The Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA) policy established by our members outlines that we oppose tariffs and embargos as a means to change trade policy and supports working with other countries for free trade. Therefore, we work to defend this policy, and we need trade wars to stop for some type of certainty to the marketplace. ICGA will continue to advocate for free trade including the passage of USMCA and a positive trade resolution with China.
Trump’s Trade War Could Cost Him Iowa In 2020
President Obama won Iowa twice. If former vice president Biden is the Democratic nominee, he will be strong and competitive in Iowa. Trump’s approval rating has already plunged to a net (-8) in Iowa as just 44% of voters approve and 52% disapprove of the job he is doing as president. The door is wide open for Democrats to take back the Hawkeye State.
Iowa farmers who supported Trump in 2016 have been rewarded with nothing but pain. If Iowa goes back into the Democratic column in 2020, Trump’s trade war will be one of the biggest reasons why.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
