News

Ag chem industry concerned over proposed new tariffs

The ag chemical industry is expressing concern about proposed new tariffs on Chinese goods coming into the U.S.

Several popular ag pesticide products, including glyphosate acid, atrazine, 2,4-D and dicamba, are on the list of Chinese imports that President Trump is threatening to hit with tariffs of up to 25 percent starting next month.

“Our biggest fear is if that 25 percent tariff is imposed, farmers certainly are going to start seeing some—if not all—of that reflected in the pricing of the products they purchase this fall,” says Chris Novak, CEO of the industry trade group CropLifeAmerica.

Novak says most of the chemicals covered by the proposed tariff are not produced in the U.S. The group is asking that the pesticides be exempted from the tariffs, saying that a 25 percent duty would “would increase costs several hundred million dollars per year”.