John Tsitrian points out that Donald Trump’s irrational threat to close the Mexican border would compound troubles for South Dakota farmers already reeling under the loss of the Chinese market for soybeans under Trump’s equally irrational tariffs:
“Disaster” seems to be the most frequently applied noun to the economic situation that would follow Trump’s decision to close the border. Daily trade across the border amounts to more than a billion dollars and supports 5 million American jobs. Though the effect in our southern states would be most acute, South Dakota wouldn’t be immune from a significant amount of that pain. In 2017, South Dakota sold $150 million of meat products and another $30 million of grain to Mexico, which amounted to about 25% of our state’s total overseas sales. That year Mexico was second only to China as an export market for South Dakota soybeans. Since then the trading world has evolved, but in 2018 our state’s farmers remained upbeat about our sales to Mexico, which account for more than 15,000 jobs in South Dakota [John Tsitrian, “Trump’s Threat to Shut Down the Mexican Border Should Worry South Dakotans,” The Constant Commoner, 2019.04.01].
Boy, you farmers sure picked a winner in Trump!
USDA predicts South Dakota farmers will plant 8% less soybeans and 13% more corn this year. USDA projects we’ll see more winter wheat, sunflowers, barley, and dry edible peas and less hay, spring wheat, oats, and sorghum.
Thune agrees with me. Note that Thune is quoted as saying “the President seems to throw out ideas without thinking them through.” Trump getting criticized this harshly from within the GOP leadership is a breakthrough moment. https://kelo.com/news/articles/2019/apr/02/sen-thune-says-little-support-in-congress-for-closing-usmexican-border/#.XKPA6SIWj4s.twitter
Over 2 years of Trump and now Big John makes the dramatic statement that “the President seems to throw out ideas without thinking them through.” Wow… burn!!!! Thune and Rounds and Ms Kristi are all complicit in this clown show. Hate to say it, but farmers voted for this and now they can enjoy.
I wonder if farmers are beginning to realize that Frantic Flaccid Fool has absolutely no regard for them at all? None. Zero. Nil.
All you have to do is go down to the grocery store and look at the labels on the fruit and vegetables – this time of the year, they’re not being grown in the US. They’re all from somewhere south of the border, and about 50% are from Mexico. Close the border, a lot less nutritious food on the table.
Someone finally sent Marlboro Barbie a box of clews or did he just now get around to looking at them? Someone with access to MB needs to tell him water is wet, ice is cold, cutting income taxes does not increase tax revenues, etc.