North Dakota Farmers Union Vice President weighs in on tariffs & potential economic loss

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Farmers are bracing for heavy impacts from those tariffs.

Canada, Mexico, and China are three of the largest buyers of American crops, and the tariffs Trump has placed on imports from those countries have caused them to respond with retaliatory levies.

Experts say this will likely cause farmers to lose money on all their major crops.

The vice president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, says this is not a time the industry can afford to bear that kind of economic loss.

Bob Kuylen, Vice President of the North Dakota Farmers Union, says “Farm closures are up 55 percent, that’s not a sign of a thriving economy that can take a huge hit like this.
That’s what we have the most of in this country, is corn and wheat, and now we’re probably going to lose a great customer again. And we just can’t keep taking these hits.”

Farm groups said U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada would also raise fertilizer costs.

About 85% of U.S. imports of potash fertilizer come from Canada.