Local rep announces tariff relief for farmers
Apr. 5—WASHINGTON — Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, on Thursday announced four new tariff relief programs to assist Central Valley farmers and agriculture communities amid the escalating global trade war.
These U.S. Department of Agriculture programs provide as much as $251 million to reduce foreign market costs, especially for specialty crops such as almonds, grapes and olives.
The deadline to apply is June 6, 2025.
Central Valley farmers produce 25% of the nation's food, Harder said.
In response to President Donald Trump's tariffs, China has imposed a 35% tariff on U.S. almonds, all of which are grown in California. The European Union is also considering new retaliatory tariffs at the end of the month.
"Our valley farmers should not be punished with rising costs and shrinking foreign markets," Harder said. "These are some of the hardest working people out there and we have to support them during this economic uncertainty. These proactive programs will make it easier to sell our world-class crops abroad and reduce the burden of retaliatory tariffs on local growers."
The trade relief programs include $200 million from the Market Access Program to promote U.S. fruits, nuts, and more to global consumers; $34.5 million from the Foreign Market Development program to identify trade barriers and new markets for U.S. crops; $9 million from the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program to specifically address specialty crop trade barriers; and $8 million from the Emerging Markets Program for developing export opportunities in emerging foreign markets.
Farmers can determine if they are eligible for the program at grants.gov.
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