Ohio hog farmers are reacting to the news that China is planning to attach a tariff on pork exports. That鈥檚 in response to the U.S. proposed tariff on Chinese steel. Farmers say this is a move that has an immediate effect.
鈥淭he message is get it worked out.鈥�
That鈥檚 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鈥檚 proposed on pork creates a volatile marketplace with ripples that can instantaneously hit farmers.
鈥淪omething 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鈥檚 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.
