Trump Tariffs Illegal – Congressman Jim Costa

The United States Supreme Court by a vote of 6 to 3 has struck down President Trump’s tariffs, to the relief of most farmers who have experienced severe financial losses and rising costs of farm inputs. The new tariffs in 2025, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IIEPA)and labeled “reciprocal” by the Trump administration, blanketed nearly all trading partners with a 10 percent baseline, but China faced rates exceeding 100 percent. In response, Beijing escalated retaliatory duties on key agricultural imports. Almonds were hit with a 45 percent tariff. Wine faced a 40 percent duty. Oranges, cotton, and dairy products also saw steep increases. As a result American Agriculture has suffered, especially soybeans in the MidWest., In California alone agricultural exports to China collapsed with the total value of 13 major commodities dropping from an average of $1.8 billion (2020 through 2024) to just $780 million in 2025, a 57 percent decline, according to research at UC Davis.. California Congressmen Jim Costa, MIke Thompson and John Garamendi met with California farmers the week of the Supreme Court ruling where there were expressions of strong opposition to the Trump imposed trade wars. House Ag Committee member, Congressman Jim Costa explained the implications of the trade issue and the scheduled mark up to the proposed Farm Bill that is getting underway. Here are Congressman Costa’s opening remarks to the farmers and a follow-up exchange with Congressman Thompson at a farmer meeting at the Yolo County Farm Bureau Office in Woodland California.