California almond growers grapple with uncertainty as new tariffs could hit exports

Article content

Newman, California (AP) – California almond farmers are used to dealing with fluctuations in weather and water supply. Now they must also struggle with uncertainty in commercial battles, as the Trump administration meets customs fees on goods from several countries and weighs more to the list.

Article content

Article content

Experts said that with more than three quarters of the almond crop in California for export, the customs tariff can affect the place where nuts go and send the effects of ripples throughout the state's economy. The country is the largest product of almonds in the world, as it represents about 80 percent of the global offer.

Article content

Indeed, China has responded to Trump's move by raising the definitions of American almonds – at the top of the definitions imposed on nuts in the recent Trump administration.

“If we start a trade war, as you know, India, the European Union, and parts of the Middle East, the almond industry in California will suffer greatly,” said Colin Carter, Agricultural Economist and Honorary Professor at the University of California, Davis. “The price will decrease further and you will see the orchards torn, and the farms will be lost. There will be farms for sale up and down in the valley.”

A few weeks after his second term, President Donald Trump slapped 10 % of the customs tariff on China and threatened, then delayed 30 days, and 25 % taxes on goods from Canada and Mexico. He also threatened to expand the trade war by imposing multi -use fees on a number of products to suit what other countries receive on American goods, which economists say create a difficult environment for farmers who have already challenged who are trying to plan for the future.

Meanwhile, Trump's movements have sparked revenge on American commercial partners. China, for example, said that the chicken that cultivates the United States, wheat, corn and cotton will face an additional 15 % tariff while facing fine corn, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables and dairy products additional 10 %-as well as almonds.

Article content

Article content

Almonds are the largest agricultural export in California, and the state declined with $ 4.7 billion of almond exports in 2022 with about half of going to the European Union and India, according to government farm data.

Almond experts said that the California key will continue to follow a group of export markets. “While China is still an important market, California almonds are shipped to more than 100 destinations, so maintaining a varied export program is necessary,” said Rick Kushman, a California Council spokesman.

Several California farmers in the central valley rich in crops have received some other Trump policies, which specifically aim to obtain more water to their fields. The region – which grows many fresh products in the country, including citrus fruits and almonds – are largely Republican in a large -scale democratic country.

But almonds in California will now face a 35 % total tariff in China. This is because Beijing put a tariff on almonds during the first Trump administration in response to the definitions it imposed on Chinese products. Experts said this step made almonds in California relatively more expensive for nuts from Australia, which as a result of a market share in China, while almond experts in California decreased to China.

Article content

Zakari Williams, sales manager at Stewart & Jasper Orkardes, California, said that many of California's almond exporters have turned their focus into other markets. He said that any attempt by India to raise the definitions may cause concern that nuts may grow expensive for consumers there.

He said that the definitions are a challenge, but the biggest matter is the uncertainty for almond farmers who do not expect to harvest a new grove for at least three years, then plan to develop this for two decades.

“The uncertainty may be more problematic than the tariff,” Williams said. “Understanding about whether there will be, or will not be, a little more difficult to plan.”

_

I was trivial from Santa Anna, California.

Article content