Top commodities feel effects of trade war
A look at impacts on rice, walnuts and prunes
Industry experts for Yubasutter’s top agricultural commodities – rice, walnuts and prunes – say the trade wars are starting to ramp up with new tariffs being imposed by crucial markets such as China, India, Turkey and the European Union. All are hopeful a resolution is coming.
Agricultural commissioners say local farmers and exporters haven’t reported experiencing any effects of the ongoing trade war yet, but are paying close attention.
“We have not heard anything negative from our exporters at this point, but it is still early,” said Yuba County Ag Commissioner Stephen Scheer. “We will keep our ears open, as we expect there to be some impacts at some point.”
At the international level, the effects are already being felt by the industries.
Jim Watson, communications manager for the California Rice Commission, said the state’s rice trade is feeling the impacts of tariffs imposed by two important markets: Turkey and the European Union.
“Turkey, in particular, is a key market for our rice,” Watson said. “…For Turkey, the most recent increase is 25 percent, which is in addition to earlier increases ranging from 26 percent to 45 percent. The cumulative actions are an increase of up to 70 percent, depending on the type of rice.”
The European Union is a little more straightforward,
ABOVE: BELOW:
A tour of the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs last year. Orchards off Woodruff Lane in Yuba County.
he said. The EU imposed an import duty of 25 percent on milled rice as part of the escalating trade tensions.
“We encourage all parties to work diligently to resolve this as quickly as possible,” he said.
“As to our outlook for the year, we have near normal plantings, harvest starts next month and the rice fields are currently in good to excellent shape.”