Trump's tariffs
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imports into the US is doing good things for global trade, according to Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay.
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of 125% on the US, up from the 84% announced earlier.
That apparently pushes the tariff on US pork and pork variety meat to an eye watering 172%.
The new soybean tariff is more than 150%.
This follows Trump’s partial backdown after markets went into freefall, pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days, but upping the ante on China with a tariff of 145%.
Your old mate reckons once tariffs get that high, the actual number becomes academic.
The US Farm Journal concurs: “Whether the tariffs are 50% or 100%, it really doesn’t matter. Either one shuts down trade. It hurts our cotton exports, our beef and our pork.”
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.

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