COLFAX, Wash. — American farmers are once again caught in the crossfire of an escalating trade war with China.
In response to President Trump’s recent 145% tariffs on China, the Chinese government retaliated by placing 125% tariffs on all U.S. imports.
The Washington Department of Agriculture reported that every agricultural export from Washington to China is expected to face a significant decline, while the cost of farm equipment is predicted to surge.
This situation has left Washington farmers in a precarious situation.
Many farmers still bear scars from 2018, when the U.S. agriculture sector lost $27 billion during the first trade battle under Trump’s first administration.
“It seems like farming is the sacrificial lamb when it comes to trade,” said Randy Olstad, Grain Division Manager at PNW Co-op in Colfax
According to the Washington Department of Agriculture, Washington exported $693 million-worth of agricultural products to China in 2024; beef, fish, and hay topping the list. However, the new tariffs are likely to diminish these revenue streams.
Olstad said one of the most difficult things for farmers is that they are at the mercy of the market.
“That’s the worst thing about being a farmer: they have no price control,” he said. “They can’t say, ‘It’s going to cost me $6 to raise a bushel of wheat this year, you’ve got to pay me $6.05,’ that’s not how that works.”
The uncertainty surrounding this tariff war makes it frustratingly difficult for farmers to plan ahead, particularly for crops that have not yet been harvested.
China has promised to go toe-to-toe with Trump’s tariffs, meaning a resolution could be far-off.
“We just have to wait for the rules,” Olstad said. “Once we know where our commodities are going to go or how they’re going to be traded, I think you’re going to see more stability and maybe an opportunity for higher prices.”
As farmers weather another trade war, the Washington Department of Agriculture said consumers can support local farmers by purchasing Washington-grown and produced products whenever possible.
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