LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 10, 2025) — Today, the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee, chaired by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Northfield Twp.), held a hearing to examine the impact of rising tariffs and cuts to the United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), and the harm these actions are causing to Michigan agribusiness, grocery prices, and Michigan families alike. The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and representatives from Michigan State University shared testimony on the detrimental effects of the Trump administration’s unprecedented attacks on global trade. Throughout the hearing, testifiers detailed how Michigan farmers and consumers are being harmed economically by the negligence of D.C. Republicans.
“I’m deeply concerned by the high retaliatory tariffs being placed on Michigan farmers’ exports in response to the tariffs the Trump administration has placed on other nations,” said Sen. Shink. “Michigan’s agricultural sector is our second-largest industry, bringing our state $126 billion annually and feeding millions globally and supporting more than 800,000 jobs in Michigan. These tariffs, however, threaten the stability of our agricultural industry, the livelihood of Michigan farmers, and the millions who depend on them for fresh, healthy food. Our farmers need fair and reliable access to global markets, and our consumers need affordable groceries.
According to a recent MDARD report, tariffs are creating chaos and raising costs in Michigan’s food and agriculture industry. In 2024, prior to the Trump administration’s tariffs, Michigan set a new state export record by exporting nearly $3 billion of food and agriculture products. Comparing the first half of 2025 to the same period last year, Michigan’s:
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Soybean meal exports fell by 46%;
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Wheat exports declined 89%;
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Fresh cherry exports fell by 62%; and
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Fresh apple exports declined 58%.
“We’re hearing Michigan companies are having a hard time remaining competitive in the global marketplace,” said Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), in testimony before the committee today. “To me, that is the concerning, long-lasting impact of the current federal approach to trade policy. We’ll continue to track the impacts of federal tariff policy and what this means for Michigan producers and consumers. While we can’t necessarily control the current uncertainty, we can listen and respond to stakeholder needs and create opportunities at a local level.”
The report shows that tariffs are also making it harder for Michigan farms and food businesses to sell in international markets. Canada, China and other countries responded to the Trump administration’s tariffs with retaliatory tariffs of up to 140% on U.S. agriculture goods. These retaliatory tariffs are drying up export markets that Michigan farmers and producers depend on.
Additionally, tariffs are driving up the costs of groceries, especially for those who already face economic challenges and food insecurity. Food prices are expected to rise by 2.8%, but fresh produce prices are expected to increase by 3.6%, directly resulting from the imposed tariffs. Families in the bottom 10-20% of earners could see their disposable income drop by 5.1% — making it harder to feed families.
“Simply put, tariffs function like a hidden tax — they don’t appear in a line item on a receipt, but they show up in the form of higher prices,” testified David Ortega, MSU Professor of Food Economics and Policy, at this morning’s hearing. “Tariffs are raising food prices for Michigan families by increasing costs throughout the supply chain and compounding other inflationary factors. They affect everyday foods that people rely on and fall most heavily on low-income households.”
In addition to the Trump administration’s grossly negligent tariffs and trade policy, the “Big, Beautiful Bill” cut $300 million from the USDA, weakening support for millions of Michigan farmers. These cuts have contributed to SNAP’s instability in recent months, harming our rural communities and farmers as well as those who already struggle to put fresh food on the table. While families and farmers work hard with the expectation that they can support their families, the tariffs are causing families to work harder and face more uncertainty and worry.
This committee hearing follows a slew of actions taken by Michigan Senate Democrats to safeguard our state and residents from the dangerous, unprecedented cuts and decisions happening in the federal government.
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