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Retaliatory tariffs costly to US pork producers

The Trump Administration says that Canada, Mexico, and the EU would no longer be exempt from US steel and aluminum tariffs announced earlier this year.  The tariffs are intended to bolster the US aluminum and steel industry.  But a past president of the National Pork Producers Council says it’s coming at a huge price to the agriculture industry.

US pork is one of products being targeted for retaliation by Mexico.  Ken Maschoff, an Illinois pork producer and immediate past president of the National Pork Producers Council says they’re disappointed in the announcement Mexico plants to retaliate against US steel and aluminum tariffs.

“Mexico is our number one market in terms of volume,” he says.  “And it’s right up there – number 1/number 2 every year in terms of dollars.”

Kenneth Smith, is the NAFTA Chief Negotiator for Mexico.  “We are very disappointed in the result of the imposition of these tariffs,” he says.  “And we will take equivalent measures on our side.”

Maschoff tells Brownfield pork producers are again caught in the crosshairs of a trade dispute and their patience is wearing thin.“But at this point they are going into a situation that is just vital,” he says.  “They’re not going to exist, they aren’t going to survive if we lose any more trade agreements.”

AUDIO: Ken Maschoff, National Pork Producers Council