Trump Threatens Tariffs on Indian Rice and Canadian Fertilizer

Darwin, 09 December: U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on rice from India and fertilizer from Canada, saying such measures may be necessary to protect the interests of American farmers.

On Friday in Washington, the President announced a $12 billion stimulus package for U.S. farmers at the White House. Speaking to reporters, he said the increased tariffs his administration has imposed on various countries have made this assistance possible.

“Farmers are an essential asset to the United States. They are part of the backbone of this country,” Trump said. “Years of neglect slowed the progress of American agriculture. The tariff policies I’ve introduced are the reason this support is now possible. The incentives we’re providing today are possible because of my tariff strategy.”

Trump clarified that the new tariff policies were not designed merely to generate revenue. “Protecting our domestic products, agriculture, and industries is a key objective of these policies. Safeguarding American entrepreneurs and domestic production is our primary responsibility.”

Reporters noted that Indian rice still dominates the U.S. retail market and that several Indian companies maintain strong control over the rice supply chain in the United States. They asked the administration’s position on this issue.

In response, Trump said, “You’ve reminded me of something important. Many others have raised this as well. We will look into it. The solution is simple—impose tariffs again, and the issue will be resolved in two minutes.”

Regarding the possible tariffs on Canadian fertilizer, Trump said, “We import large quantities of fertilizer from Canada on a regular basis. The volume is so high that our domestically produced fertilizer is losing its market share. We may have to impose high tariffs on Canadian fertilizer if we want to protect our own producers.”

On April 2, the United States imposed expanded export tariffs on more than 100 countries. India and Canada were among those hit with the highest rates—50% on Indian goods and 35% on Canadian goods.

However, in November the Trump administration withdrew tariffs on several Indian products. According to U.S. officials, black pepper, cloves, cumin, cardamom, turmeric and ginger have been exempted, along with all varieties of Indian tea including Assam and Darjeeling. But tariffs on basmati rice, shrimp, and other seafood remain in place.

Source: AFP