Mexico
John Heinberg, Total Farm Marketing, says grains opened lower on Monday but recovered shortly after the opening when news broke that the U.S. would delay tariffs on Mexico for 30 days to allow negotiations.
Just hours before the tariffs were set to take effect, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the news on X, and President Donald Trump later confirmed. Mexico is the top destination for U.S. ag exports. The announcement from Canada came later on Monday.
Brad Kooima, Kooima Kooima Varilek, says grain and livestock futures opened mostly lower in response to tariffs imposed on China, Canada and Mexico over the weekend and retaliatory measures from those countries.
Following President Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Canada announced its own 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. imports. Mexico also announced its own retaliatory measures, but no specifics were unveiled as of Sunday morning.
U.S. farmers and various trade groups are very apprehensive about not only the potential negative impacts of tariffs on the U.S. ag sector, but what they do to garner new trade agreements.
Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing says most markets had a negative reaction to to the 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canada starting this weekend and possible retaliation.
Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag, says grain and hog markets opened lower reacting to President Trump announcing Thursday afternoon the U.S. would be moving ahead with 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump justified the tariffs as a response to what he described as excessive migration, drug trafficking and unfair trade practices. While he suggested the tariff rate could further increase, he indicated a decision on whether oil imports would be exempt would come soon.
Lutnick repeatedly called for restoring “reciprocity” in trade with other countries.
Outgoing USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture acknowledging the progress made in reopening cattle trade between the two countries following the detection of New World Screwworm, but says more action is needed to resume trade.