President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, signals a renewed focus on trade disputes and tariffs. Greer, a seasoned trade expert and former chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, helped shape Trump’s earlier policies, including tariffs on China and the replacement of North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Trump emphasized Greer’s role in defending American manufacturing, agriculture, and services while targeting trade imbalances.
Trump recently announced plans to impose 25 percent import duties on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned of possible retaliatory tariffs, stating, “One tariff followed by another…puts at risk common businesses.” Sheinbaum, while open to dialogue, emphasized that drug-related issues are primarily a U.S. problem.
Retaliatory tariffs could have significant consequences for U.S. agriculture, a frequent target in past trade disputes. In 2018, Mexico imposed tariffs on U.S. agricultural products during USMCA negotiations. With Canada and Mexico as top exporters to America, escalating tensions may impact cross-border agricultural trade and farm incomes.
Trade developments are closely watched by farmers, as potential tariff battles could disrupt markets and partnerships built over decades.
Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet News Hour and The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.