The world is talking about tariffs that the U.S. has imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China and the produce industry will be significantly impacted. Not only will imported products become more expensive, retaliations also result in export products being subject to taxes. One industry that could be greatly impacted is tree nuts as U.S. growers export more than 70 percent of the nation's almond crop and 75 percent of pistachios. China is a large buyer of these nut varieties that are both included in the March 4 announcement of China's retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. has exported 298,000 tonnes of almonds and 328,000 tonnes of pistachios, worth $1.22 billion and $2.3 billion respectively, in the past five years.
Over time, the almond industry has learned to navigate global challenges and has been focused on diversifying exports, according to Almond Board of California President and CEO Clarice Turner. While China used to be the U.S.' number one almond trading partner, it's now number five due to a 55 percent tariff. At the same time, relationships with India and the U.K. have been developed more recently. "Putting all our eggs in one basket is just never wise," she said.
In general, tariffs are expected to have serious consequences for American agriculture. "Our farmers are the backbone of this country, and they need strong, fair trade policies that ensure they can compete on a level playing field—not be caught in the middle of international disputes," says National Farmers Union President Rob Larew. "We are already facing significant economic uncertainty, and these actions only add to the strain. Trade policies must come with real, tangible protections for the farmers directly affected. We've heard there's a strategy in place—now we need to see it. Promises alone won't pay the bills or keep farms afloat. Without a clear plan, family farmers will once again be left to bear the burden of decisions beyond their control, and eventually, so will consumers. We urge the administration to work with our trading partners to prevent further harm to rural communities."