PRESS RELEASE: Gronli warns trump's actions are double whammy for SD farmers

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Nikki Gronli, the Democratic candidate for South Dakota's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, today expressed deep concern over recent announcements by President Trump, including plans to import 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef and impose 50% tariffs on Canadian products.

President Trump announced the beef imports on Truth Social on Friday. Then, over the weekend, the administration failed to reach a trade agreement with Canada.

"The President has taken steps to further harm our already struggling ag industry," Gronli said. “Our farmers and ranchers depend on strong cattle prices to cover soaring costs for seed, fertilizer, and other high operational expenses, while also trying to navigate a weakened soybean and corn market, damaged by Trump himself. Adding insult to injury, he entered into a trade war with South Dakota’s number one trading partner, Canada.”

Gronli continued, “Nationally, our cattle herd is the smallest it’s been in 75 years. We should be enforcing anti-trust laws, expanding local processing, and ensuring free and fair markets. Monopolies controlled by foreign corporations have backed our producers into a corner.”

The Canadian tariffs are set to go into place Sept. 8 and will include seeds and agricultural equipment and products. Trump used a long-dormant Great Depression-era law from the broader Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to impose the tariffs. The act became known for making the Great Depression worse.

Gronli pledged to protect South Dakota’s agricultural industry in Congress and work for free and open markets that reward the hard work of farmers and ranchers.