Trump Announces New Tariffs on Indian Rice Amid Farmer Concerns
According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, President Donald Trump announced new measures aimed at protecting American farmers, including tariffs on rice imports from India. Speaking at a White House ceremony on Monday, Trump highlighted billions of dollars in new aid for farmers who have voiced concerns about cheaper imports.
Trump stated that he would address the alleged dumping of Indian rice in the U.S. market. Some farmers attribute declining rice prices to imports from countries like India, Vietnam, and Thailand, claiming these nations sell their products at lower prices.
The President faces increasing pressure to address high consumer prices and persistent inflation, issues causing voter dissatisfaction and posing a political risk to Republicans ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. This includes challenges faced by farmers, partly due to market factors, including Trump’s own tariff policies.
Previously, Trump exempted certain fertilizers, such as potash and urea, from retaliatory tariffs imposed on Canada.
Both Canada and India have sought trade agreements to stabilize their commercial relations with the U.S., but negotiators have struggled to reach deals. In August, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods as a punitive measure. A U.S. negotiating team is scheduled to visit India this week for further talks, although expectations for tariff reductions remain low.
Bloomberg reported that Trump had previously threatened to increase tariffs on Canadian products by 10% in response to television advertisements from Ontario criticizing his trade agenda. Those ads highlighted a 45% tariff rate on goods not covered by the North American trade agreement. In recent days, Trump has also suggested ending that trilateral agreement.
