Rep. Davids and Kansas Farm Bureau discuss Trump tariffs

MERRIAM, Kan. — Ahead of President Donald Trump’s address Tuesday night, Kansas’ 3rd District Congresswoman, Democrat Sharice Davids, hosted a call Tuesday morning.

A guest of hers, included someone who works closely with Kansas farmers.

This comes as Trumps administration is proceeding with tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, a move he says is to combat “US national security threats.” You can learn more about the tariffs from the White House here.

“I have concerns right now. President Trump’s trade policies certainly have the potential to impact and hurt Kansas,” Rep. Sharice Davids said Tuesday. “Too many people have already seen the consequences of trade instability before.”

Davids said there is potential for this to be a ‘reckless approach.’

She hopes to hear from Trump on a number of issues, including urgency of the Farm Bill.

Davids also says to keep the economy strong, there will need to be trade policies that are going to open doors for farmers.

“We are looking at a situation where Kansas farmers are at risk of facing higher costs,” she shared, adding its not just the agriculture industry that will feel it. “There’s a potential that every Kansan will feel this with rising prices on things like gas, and groceries, vehicles costing thousands more a year.”

“The initial effect could be higher prices from inputs like from Canada on our fertilizer, or from any country, as far as that’s concerned,” Newland said. “But right now, the tariffs, as far as Canada, Mexico, and China are concerned, we are still in the process of marketing more grain.”

Joe Newland, the president of the Kansas Farm Bureau, was on Tuesday’s call. Newland said trade is vital for Kansas agriculture, adding that he believes there will be impacts caused by tariffs.

“They (these tariffs) will probably hurt us in the short term, but in the long term, we want to make sure we can keep everything strong,” Newland shared.

The Peterson Institute for International Economics, a non-partisan research organization, says tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China could cost the average US household over $1,200 a year.

The President’s Joint Address will take place Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. central time.