THE ISSUE: TARIFFS ON AGRICULTURAL INPUTS

Current Concern: Fertilizers

The price of fertilizer is a critical production cost for farmers of corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and many other important crops across the country. Keeping the cost of fertilizer low keeps American farmers competitive in the domestic and international markets. Artificially inflating the cost of fertilizer products seriously impacts our farmers’ bottom lines.

About a fifth of all fertilizers used in the United States are phosphorus-based. Yet, the United States contains only about 2 percent of the world’s known phosphate reserves. Consequently, imports traditionally have been a significant source of phosphate fertilizers for U.S. farmers.

Federal policymakers must be made to understand that farmers cannot afford to pay even more for the supplies they need to stay afloat. Long-term economic distress from ongoing trade wars have already made life difficult for farmers across the country. Making it clear to the White House and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that tariffs—which are actually taxes—on phosphate imports hurt American farmers will pressure them not to cast our agricultural economy aside.

Policymakers need to know that Americans care about the well-being of our farmers and oppose any policies that would put them in greater economic distress. Import taxes on phosphate fertilizers do just that.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Please write a letter to the White House and the ITC and let them know how you feel about these taxes. Click here to get started.