Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump Tariffs Have Valley Farmers on Edge With Billions of Dollars at Stake
Edward Smith updated website photo 2024
By Edward Smith
Published 18 hours ago on
March 4, 2025

President Donald Trump's promised tariffs could took effect Tuesday against China, Mexico, and Canada, major export destinations for California ag. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

With countries issuing retaliatory tariffs in response to President Donald Trump’s protective orders Tuesday morning, actions from import destinations may soon hit close to home for Central Valley farmers.

“For pistachios, all tree nuts, so much goes overseas — 65%, 70%, sometimes as much as 75% — anything that disrupts that movement is going to have an adverse effect. We saw it the last time we had these tariffs put in place in China.” — Jim Zion, managing partner with Meridian Growers 

China made it clear that it would impose tariffs up 15% on chicken, pork, soy, and beef products from the U.S. beginning March 10, according to ProFarmer.com. It would put a 10% on fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, which includes tree nuts. That brings the total duty on tree nuts to 35%.

North of the border, Canada promised an immediate 25% tariff on $20 billion of U.S. imports. More tariffs would be placed on $86 billion of U.S. goods, ProFarmer reported. What’s less clear is how that country, a major importer of U.S. agricultural goods, would tax specific crops.

For growers, tariffs on potash and nitrogen from Canada could mean major price increases on fertilizer.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has kept her country’s strategies quieter, saying she has several plans depending on different actions from Trump.

But growers are also keeping an eye on the European Union, a major importer of U.S. agricultural products.

“For pistachios, all tree nuts, so much goes overseas — 65%, 70%, sometimes as much as 75% — anything that disrupts that movement is going to have an adverse effect,” said Jim Zion, managing partner with Meridian Growers. “We saw it the last time we had these tariffs put in place in China.”

Growers Wait and See for Extent of Tariff Damage

While shippers await which tariffs take place, Zion said some overseas customers have been calling to get orders rushed in.

“A Mexico customer asked about what we could ship out as soon as possible in anticipation that there may be retaliatory tariffs put on pistachios,” Zion said.

Together, Canada, Mexico, and China make up 25% of the export market, Zion said. Behind the U.S., the E.U. is the biggest consumer of the nut, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also imports the second largest amount of the nut, behind China.

How the E.U. will respond remains unseen, with threats from the coalition directed more toward bourbon, motorcycles, and jeans, ProFarmer reports.

Trump has said the E.U. blocks too many ag products, but Politico reports that the body’s culinary, phytosanitary, and political obstacles prevent many imports.

Requests for response made by GV Wire were not returned from the citrus and fresh fruit industries.

The Almond Board of California is also looking at possible tariffs on almonds. Rick Kushman, spokesperson for the Almond Board said while China is an important market, the nut gets shipped to more than 100 destinations.

“Maintaining a diverse export program is essential,” Kushman said. “We are awaiting more information from Mexico, which is due to be released on Sunday, March 9. Our industry continues to support reducing barriers to trade and smooth market access for California almonds.”

Worst-Case Scenario: New Trade War Could Cost California Ag $6 Billion

Trump’s tariffs are the biggest since the 1930s, impacting about $1.5 trillion in imports, ProFarmer reported.

In December, ag experts at UC Davis’ Giannini Foundation said a new trade war could wipe out a quarter of California’s agricultural exports, costing the state $6 billion annually.

Pistachios and dairy would be the industries hardest hit, according to analysts. Following the 2018 trade war between China and the U.S., almond prices fell from $2.50 per pound to as low as $1.40, causing many growers to pull up orchards.

Nut prices have only recently stabilized.

Low Pistachio Inventories Dull Impact of Tariffs

The 35% duty on pistachios makes the nut less competitive compared to Iran and Turkey, the next major producers. Major cities Shanghai and Beijing prefer the premium U.S. nut whereas smaller cities prefer more competitively prices Iranian imports, according to the USDA’s February report.

Extreme heat has stunted pistachio growth in Iran, despite a forecasted 20% increase in production. Turkey’s “on-year” of the pistachios alternate-bearing crop cycle could more than double production to 385,000 tons this harvest.

In California, growers expect this year to be an “on-year,” meaning a strong harvest. Strong demand has led to scant carryover from last year, Zion said.

“It’s good it’s happening now because most of the crop has been sold,” Zion said.

Farmers Depend on Canada for Fertilizer

The Fertilizer Institute called on Trump to create a carveout for fertilizers, essential to farming.

Manufacturers rely on Canada for potash imports, a key ingredient in the mixtures. As much as 85% comes from Canada as mineral deposits are geographically specific and mining is time intensive and costly, the institute said in a statement.

Canada also supplies nearly 10% of the country’s nitrogen needs and 20% of sulfur.

“A stable and affordable supply of fertilizers is critical to maintaining the global competitiveness of U.S. farmers, strengthening rural economies, and keeping food prices in check,” said Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Point-Counterpoint: Reps. Costa and Fong React to Trump’s Speech

DON'T MISS

Veterans Speak Out on Trump Administration’s Plans to Cut VA Budget

DON'T MISS

Google Leans Further Into AI-Generated Overviews for Its Search Engine

DON'T MISS

Chiefs Trading All-Pro Offensive Guard Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 4th-Round Pick

DON'T MISS

LeBron Becomes First to Score 50,000 Combined Points in Regular Season and Playoffs

DON'T MISS

Roki Sasaki Pitches 3 Scoreless Innings in His Spring Debut With the Dodgers

DON'T MISS

Stephen Curry Scores 28, Improves to 12-1 at Madison Square Garden as Warriors Beat Knicks

DON'T MISS

Powerful US Storms Create Blizzard Conditions and Threaten to Spawn More Tornadoes

DON'T MISS

Catholic Church Opens Lent Season With Words of Solidarity for Pope Sidelined With Pneumonia

DON'T MISS

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Fails to Get Job Back After Ouster Following Historic Deadly Wildfire

UP NEXT

Veterans Speak Out on Trump Administration’s Plans to Cut VA Budget

UP NEXT

Google Leans Further Into AI-Generated Overviews for Its Search Engine

UP NEXT

Chiefs Trading All-Pro Offensive Guard Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 4th-Round Pick

UP NEXT

LeBron Becomes First to Score 50,000 Combined Points in Regular Season and Playoffs

UP NEXT

Roki Sasaki Pitches 3 Scoreless Innings in His Spring Debut With the Dodgers

UP NEXT

Stephen Curry Scores 28, Improves to 12-1 at Madison Square Garden as Warriors Beat Knicks

UP NEXT

Powerful US Storms Create Blizzard Conditions and Threaten to Spawn More Tornadoes

UP NEXT

Catholic Church Opens Lent Season With Words of Solidarity for Pope Sidelined With Pneumonia

UP NEXT

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Fails to Get Job Back After Ouster Following Historic Deadly Wildfire

UP NEXT

Israel’s Cutoff of Supplies to Gaza Sends Prices Soaring as Aid Stockpiles Dwindle

Edward Smith,
Multimedia Journalist
Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.

Chiefs Trading All-Pro Offensive Guard Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 4th-Round Pick

45 minutes ago

LeBron Becomes First to Score 50,000 Combined Points in Regular Season and Playoffs

49 minutes ago

Roki Sasaki Pitches 3 Scoreless Innings in His Spring Debut With the Dodgers

52 minutes ago

Stephen Curry Scores 28, Improves to 12-1 at Madison Square Garden as Warriors Beat Knicks

55 minutes ago

Powerful US Storms Create Blizzard Conditions and Threaten to Spawn More Tornadoes

1 hour ago

Catholic Church Opens Lent Season With Words of Solidarity for Pope Sidelined With Pneumonia

1 hour ago

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Fails to Get Job Back After Ouster Following Historic Deadly Wildfire

1 hour ago

Israel’s Cutoff of Supplies to Gaza Sends Prices Soaring as Aid Stockpiles Dwindle

1 hour ago

Trudeau Not Willing to Lift Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs if Trump Leaves Some Tariffs on Canada

1 hour ago

Bulldogs Snap Losing Streak With Home Win Over Wyoming

1 hour ago

Point-Counterpoint: Reps. Costa and Fong React to Trump’s Speech

Rep. Jim Costa, a Fresno Democrat, said that President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night “sowed division inste...

4 minutes ago

4 minutes ago

Point-Counterpoint: Reps. Costa and Fong React to Trump’s Speech

17 minutes ago

Veterans Speak Out on Trump Administration’s Plans to Cut VA Budget

20 minutes ago

Google Leans Further Into AI-Generated Overviews for Its Search Engine

45 minutes ago

Chiefs Trading All-Pro Offensive Guard Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 4th-Round Pick

49 minutes ago

LeBron Becomes First to Score 50,000 Combined Points in Regular Season and Playoffs

52 minutes ago

Roki Sasaki Pitches 3 Scoreless Innings in His Spring Debut With the Dodgers

55 minutes ago

Stephen Curry Scores 28, Improves to 12-1 at Madison Square Garden as Warriors Beat Knicks

1 hour ago

Powerful US Storms Create Blizzard Conditions and Threaten to Spawn More Tornadoes

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend