Trump’s trade rhetoric continues to hurt rural communities.
Kansas farmers and lawmakers reacted with anger and concern following another round of tariffs levied on U. S. exports by China, this time aimed at sorghum, which is most commonly used in animal feed.
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced blistering new tariffs on Tuesday, slamming sorghum imported from the United States with a 178.6 percent duty, a charge set to take effect immediately. While sorghum is grown throughout the U. S. South and parts of the Midwest, Kansas is the country’s top sorghum producer. The state has sent more than $400 million worth of sorghum to China in recent years and officials worry the tariffs will have an outsized impact.
“The announcement of China’s intent to place a nearly 179 percent tariff on U. S. sorghum will have a devastating effect on the Kansas agriculture industry and thus the Kansas economy,” said Gov. Jeff Colyer (R), reacting to the news, adding that the state has exported nearly $146 million in sorghum to China over the last three years.
“Any effort to restrict the ability to export sorghum,” said Colyer, “directly hits the pocketbook of farmers across Kansas.”
“Foreign market access is critical to Kansas agriculture at all times, but especially when our farmers are dealing with challenges brought on by low commodity prices and extreme weather conditions,” Colyer continued. “Instead of targeting fairly traded U. S. exports, China should immediately stop its unfair trading practices.”
Jesse McCurry, executive director for the Kansas Grain Sorghum Association, expressed similar sentiments.
“It’s extremely frustrating and very disappointing,” McCurry said . “Half of Kansas sorghum or more was going to China, and that probably stops, at least for now.”
China argues that the move is necessary to protect Chinese farmers. Sorghum is popular throughout China and is used to feed farm animals in addition to creating alcohol. The country says U. S. sorghum is being unfairly subsidized in China, disadvantaging Chinese competitors. China launched an investigation into costs associated with the product in February. The imposed tariff is meant to serve as a “deposit” while the probe goes forward.
That investigation has been seen more widely as a retaliation against President Trump, who has escalated trade tensions with China and other countries over the past few months.
