The American Soybean Association welcomed the Trump administration's decision to exempt certain agricultural inputs from newly announced Section 301 tariffs but said additional products essential to farmers should also be excluded to help limit rising production costs.
The administration announced new Section 301 tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, replacing the expired Section 122 tariffs. The action includes exemptions for certain agricultural inputs that the American Soybean Association and a coalition of agricultural organizations identified as critical to U.S. farmers.
According to the association, soybean farmers rely on affordable access to seed, fertilizer, crop protection products, machinery and replacement parts to remain competitive. While the exemptions cover some key inputs, the organization said other essential products now face additional tariffs that could increase input costs and add to financial pressures on farmers.
The association urged the administration to continue expanding exemptions to better reflect the needs of U.S. agriculture.
ASA also called on the administration to exempt countries that have free trade agreements with the United States and are meeting their obligations under those agreements. The organization said maintaining those commitments would provide greater certainty for farmers and strengthen long-term trading relationships.
In addition, the association encouraged the administration to use tariffs as leverage to negotiate new bilateral trade agreements that support the U.S. economy and create additional export opportunities for U.S. soybean farmers.
Throughout the Section 301 investigation, ASA participated in the process by submitting joint comments with the U.S. Soybean Export Council and providing testimony before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Source: American Soybean Association, "ASA Appreciates Agricultural Input Exemptions, Calls for More"