Farmers in Kentucky largely cast their votes for President Donald Trump last year but The New York Times states that they are already preparing for significant effects from the global trade war he initiated the previous year.
Ryan Bivens, a Kentucky state representative from the Republican party who runs a vast 10,000-acre agricultural operation focusing on corn, soybeans, and wheat, shares with the Times that his farming business has been under significant strain due to ongoing inflation following the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He expresses doubt about whether he could endure an extended trade conflict involving virtually all countries globally.
This is happening at quite a difficult moment for us currently," he stated. "We don't wish to see this continuing indefinitely—we simply cannot afford for it to.
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The Times article centers on the effects of Trump's trade war has had an impact on the American spirits sector, particularly since farmers in Kentucky supply large amounts of corn for whiskey production. These supplies have now faced retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada.
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Chris Swonger, who serves as the president of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, informed the Times that his sector is feeling quite apprehensive at present since “there’s no justification for involving our industry” in an international trade conflict.
Marci Palatella, who owns Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, informs the Times that she cannot source all the supplies required for her business locally. She also expresses concern that the tariffs might significantly raise the cost of glass bottles.
Imposing taxes on imports from nearly every origin primarily hurts smaller businesses such as ours," she stated. "Furthermore, we face double jeopardy because foreign markets will also levy taxes on our Kentucky bourbon.
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