Minnesota Farmers Union President compares current tariffs to 1980’s farming crisis

MINNESOTA (KVRR) — The President of the Minnesota Farmers Union says President Trump’s newly imposed tariffs are creating a crisis for many farmers.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s use of the Emergency Economic Powers Act to place tariffs was not legal.

Trump responded by imposing 10 percent tariffs and soon after 15 percent.

Gary Wertish, President of the Minnesota Farmers Union, said there has been much uncertainty for farmers since April.

He compares what’s going on now to the farm crisis in the 1980s.

“The crop prices don’t support raising the crop. You know the crop prices are lower, and some of that is due to the president’s trade policy. Not all of it, but some of it. Just a level of uncertainty. But it’s definitely his trade policy of tariffs that has really increased the price of our inputs,” said Gary Wertish, President of the Minnesota Farmers Union.

Wertish said that because of the tariffs, farmers will be working to rebuild trading relationships with other nations.