Wall Street breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday when President Trump backtracked and announced a 90-day pause on the sweeping tariffs he unveiled last week, dropping the duty rate to 10% for most countries. But it’s little reprieve for California farmers who export crops like almonds and pistachios to China. Trump has raised the taxes on imports from China to 125%, and further retaliatory tariffs from China are expected to follow. The California almond industry alone lost nearly $900 million from the trade war with China in Trump’s first term. We’ll check in with farmers and an economist on the ongoing turmoil’s effects on the agriculture industry, nationwide and here in California. And we’ll hear what it all could mean for your grocery prices.
How Tariffs and a Trade War with China Could Affect CA Farmers
A farmer works the field in Kern County on the outskirts of Mettler, California, on April 8, 2025. As President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs took effect, US farmers hoping for a profit this year instead found themselves facing lower crop prices -- and the prospect of ceding more ground in foreign markets. (FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty)
Guests:
Marcia Brown, food and agriculture reporter, POLITICO
Colin Carter, distinguished professor of agricultural and resource economics, UC Davis
Joe Del Bosque, CEO, Del Bosque family Farms in the San Joaquin Valley
Zach Pelka, co-founder and COO, Une Femme wines based out of Sonoma
Josh Harder, U.S. representative for California's 9th Congressional District, covering San Joaquin County as well as parts of Stanislaus and Contra Costa counties
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