GREENSBORO, N.C. — Federal legislation could bring significant changes to consumers in North Carolina, as new tariffs on international goods are expected to impact local shopping habits.
Daniel Johnson of the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market emphasized the essential role of farmers, saying, “The fact of the matter is…human beings have to eat and we will never be able to factor out the importance of farmers in our daily lives.”
However, North Carolina farmers may still feel the effects of the legislation. Johnson noted, “Farmers are not immune to the cost that may be affected by the inputs, so there will be increases in things like fertilizers, plastics and diesel fuels, all the things that are utilized to successfully put a crop in.”
Economic commentators are also weighing in on the potential impact of tariffs. Thomas Fellows, an economic commentator, said, “From an input perspective, fertilizer and feed and equipment could cost more which would hurt the farmers overall.”
Experts have pointed out that tariffs on steel and aluminum exports from Canada could affect industries thriving in the Triad, such as vehicle production and housing construction. Tariffs on Canada and Mexico were put on a 30-day pause earlier this month, and it remains uncertain whether those countries will impose retaliatory tariffs.