U.S. Representative Angie Craig, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, joined fellow lawmakers in urging President Trump to rescind his country-specific “Liberation Day” tariffs, citing severe harm to soybean farmers in Minnesota and nationwide.
In a letter to the President, the lawmakers highlighted the tariffs’ damaging impact on American agriculture and competitiveness. They pointed to China’s retaliatory tariffs, which have halted all U.S. soybean purchases since May, cutting off a market that accounted for more than half of U.S. soybean exports in 2024, valued at $12.6 billion.
“Soybeans are the backbone of American agriculture, contributing over $31 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 crop year,” the letter stated. “American farmers risk becoming collateral damage in your trade war.”
The lawmakers also criticized the Trump Administration’s recent $40 billion bailout to Argentina, a major U.S. soybean export competitor, calling it taxpayer-funded relief that undermines U.S. farmers.
They acknowledged the Administration’s September 2025 announcement of tariff-funded cash payments but warned that short-term market assistance does not address the long-term challenges caused by the tariffs.
“Your tariffs are expected to continue rippling across the farm economy, shrinking key export markets, squeezing our farmers’ revenue, and driving up consumer prices,” the letter said.
The group concluded that while tariffs can be useful when based on solid economic data, the unilateral “Liberation Day” tariffs have inflicted widespread harm on U.S. agriculture beyond soybean sales.
