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Pork Farmers Hit By China's Tariffs in Trade War with U.S.

Pigs on hog farm
TEODOR LAZAREV
/
SHUTTERSHOCK

Ohio hog farmers are reacting to the news that China is planning to attach a tariff on pork exports. That’s in response to the U.S. proposed tariff on Chinese steel. Farmers say this is a move that has an immediate effect.

“The message is get it worked out.”

That’s Brian Watkins, a lifelong hog farmer from Kenton who wants President Donald Trump, top federal officials and leaders from China to resolve the impending trade dilemma.

He says China’s proposed on pork creates a volatile marketplace with ripples that can instantaneously hit farmers.

“Something happens somewhere in the world that very quickly, I mean immediately essentially within hours gets filtered into the price being paid for what we receive," Watkins says. 

China accounts for $488 million in U.S. pork exports. says, because of the nature of the industry, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how much business Ohio farmers get from China.

Correction:  This article originally indicated that China was attaching a tariff on pork exports instead of planning on doing so.