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Senator Weiner warns tariffs could hurt Iowa farms, manufacturers
Summary
During remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Weiner said recent tariffs and retaliatory measures risk damaging Iowa's export-dependent agriculture and integrated manufacturing supply chains, citing fertilizer, aluminum and vehicle production as vulnerable.
Senator Weiner, the senator from Johnson, warned the Iowa Senate that recently announced tariffs and retaliatory measures could harm the state's economy, particularly agriculture and manufacturing.
Weiner told colleagues on the Senate floor that 30% of Iowa's trade is with Canada and that the state exported about $5 billion in goods to Canada last year and about $3.2 billion to Mexico. "These markets are tanking," he said, adding that projected economic growth had shifted to a negative figure he described as "2.8% negative growth." He said those changes could push the economy toward a recession.
The senator cited specific supply vulnerabilities he said would be affected by tariffs: he said 80% of the potash used in fertilizer for Iowa farms comes from Canada, and that a large share of aluminum and some oil refined by U.S. plants is produced with Canadian inputs and energy. He argued tariffs on those imports would raise costs for farmers and manufacturers, listing examples including vehicle production and farm inputs such as fertilizer. "A 10% tariff on Canadian oil... tariffs on oil raise the price of gas," Weiner said.
Weiner criticized federal policy moves he linked to the situation, including changes at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and tweeted White House commentary he quoted: "to the great farmers of The United States, get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold inside of The United States. Tariffs will go on external product on April 2. Have fun." He said that characterization did not reflect the damage he expected to Iowa producers and workers.
The remarks were made as part of a point of personal privilege on the Senate floor; the transcript records no formal Senate action on tariffs during the session. No other senators are recorded offering contrasting data or a formal policy response during the same floor time.
Weiner concluded by urging colleagues to "focus on how we are going to actually take care of Iowans," saying the economic effects of tariffs would not respect political affiliation and would harm farmers, manufacturers and homeowners.
