Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse is criticizing President Trump for imposing massive steel and aluminum tariffs on our allies in Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, a decision that has led to immediate retaliation against American businesses and farmers
“This is dumb," Sasse says. "Europe, Canada, and Mexico are not China, and you don’t treat allies the same way you treat opponents. We’ve been down this road before, blanket protectionism is a big part of why America had a Great Depression. ‘Make America Great Again’ shouldn’t mean ‘Make America 1929 Again.'"
In response, Mexican officials said they would levy import taxes on U.S. exports of pork bellies, blueberries, apples, grapes, certain cheeses, and various types of steel. The E.U. said it would impose duties “on a number of imports from the United States,” including Kentucky bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson says for months they've warned of the risks involved for farm and ranch families as the Trump administration continues to pursue policies that target the country's closest trading partners.
“Today’s announcement that Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, three of the top agriculture trading partners for Nebraska agriculture commodities, will no longer be exempt from these tariffs only creates additional uncertainty in agricultural markets and in the minds of farm and ranch families.”
Nelson says the announcement puts more than $1.8 billion in annual Nebraska agricultural exports at risk. "This action, as well as the decision to move forward with $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese products and services, will have consequences for Nebraska families who put food on our tables, clothes on our backs, and fuel in our tanks.”