How ‘reciprocal tariffs’ harm agricultural trade

Citing the persistent U.S. trade deficit and what he considers unfair practices by other countries, President Donald Trump declared April 2 “Liberation Day” and announced a sweeping new set of supplemental tariffs on imports from nearly all major U.S. trading partners. This announcement follows a se...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Glauber, Joseph W., Piñeiro, Valeria, Gianatiempo, Juan Pablo
Format: Blog Post
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178592
Description
Summary:Citing the persistent U.S. trade deficit and what he considers unfair practices by other countries, President Donald Trump declared April 2 “Liberation Day” and announced a sweeping new set of supplemental tariffs on imports from nearly all major U.S. trading partners. This announcement follows a series of previous actions taken since the beginning of the administration, including 20% tariffs on Chinese imports, 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, and duties on steel and aluminum. While the broader political and economic implications of these measures have dominated initial headlines, their impact on global agricultural trade could be equally disruptive. Agriculture sits at the intersection of global value chains, international development, and national food security. It is also a sector that has historically been highly sensitive to trade policies, retaliatory tariffs, and sudden shifts in market access. As with the wave of tariffs introduced during the first Trump administration, this new regime could reshape trade flows, drive price volatility, and introduce long-term uncertainty into the global food system.