This weekend, a large crowd is gathering at the Iowa State Fair, a significant event featuring multiple days of entertainment, a rodeo, and a yearly tradition of sculpting a life-size butter cow since 1911. Similar to the Calgary Stampede in Canada, the Iowa State Fair serves as a crucial platform for politicians to engage with voters, particularly with the upcoming U.S. midterms. Among the current concerns of Iowans is the impact of President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation family farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union, expressed that the trade policies have caused confusion and challenges for farmers. The uncertainty has led to the loss of international customers, affecting the reliability of the U.S. as a trade partner. With Canada being Iowa’s largest export market, accounting for 30% of the state’s total goods exports in 2025, the potential imposition of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods by Trump could further exacerbate the economic strain on farmers like Lehman.
The discord in trade relations between the U.S. and Canada is intensifying as negotiations continue over the weekend to avert the tariff imposition. The economic instability has created difficulties for farmers like Lehman, impacting their succession planning and forcing them to focus on immediate farming operations.
In Iowa, other farmers, including Jack Ploen, have voiced concerns about Trump’s trade policies, particularly towards Canada, emphasizing the importance of the Canadian partnership in global trading. The economic challenges have reflected in political polling, indicating a shift in competitiveness in key races for the upcoming midterm elections.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended Trump’s tariff tactics during a recent visit to a manufacturing facility in Iowa, highlighting the administration’s focus on making American industry competitive through tariffs and tax cuts. Despite some Republicans in Iowa supporting Trump’s tariffs, there is a growing unease among farmers and political figures about the impact on trade relationships with Canada and the overall economy.
Negotiations between Canada and the U.S. regarding the tariffs remain at a standstill, with disagreements hindering progress towards a resolution. The Canadian government is preparing for potential outcomes, including the need to reintroduce American alcohol to shelves and adjust procurement rules to comply with a potential agreement. The looming threat of increased tariffs on Canadian goods has raised concerns among industry insiders, emphasizing the urgency for a mutually beneficial resolution to prevent further economic strain on both countries.