ormer President Donald Trump announced this week that the U.S. could re-impose “reciprocal” tariffs on certain countries within the next two to three weeks. The move, seen as a potential re-escalation of global trade tensions, could have significant implications for U.S. pork exports.
Speaking during an Oval Office ceremony, Trump stated, “In the end, I think what’s going to happen is, we’re going to have great deals… and if we don’t have a deal with a company or a country, we’re going to set the tariff.” He indicated the new tariff numbers could be announced “over the next two, three weeks.”
This development follows a temporary pause issued on April 9, when the Trump administration delayed the rollout of wide-ranging tariffs to give approximately 90 to 100 countries a 90-day window to negotiate. However, few concrete deals have been confirmed, and pressure is building on U.S. trade negotiators.
Without negotiated agreements, Trump warned tariffs could rise as high as 50% for some nations—excluding China, where rates could reach up to 145%. Currently, a 10% universal tariff remains in place for most goods entering the U.S., with higher rates on select products.
China Tensions Simmer Despite Exemptions
While Beijing recently offered tariff exemptions for some U.S. imports and asked companies to identify critical goods to be spared, Chinese officials stated that no formal trade talks with the U.S. are currently underway. The ongoing uncertainty clouds trade forecasts, especially as China has historically been a major buyer of U.S. pork.
Legal Pushback from U.S. States
Adding to the complexity, 12 U.S. states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the tariffs are “illegal” and exceed executive authority. The coalition, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, is seeking to prevent Trump from implementing the tariffs without Congressional approval.
Pork Industry Impact
The pork industry remains particularly sensitive to trade disruptions. Past tariff battles led to reduced access to critical export markets, increased domestic supply, and falling producer prices. With potential retaliatory tariffs and policy uncertainty ahead, pork producers are watching closely.
As global markets react and negotiations unfold, Swine Web will continue monitoring developments and their implications for the U.S. pork supply chain.
