Just in case some of Trump’s beloved farmers haven’t heard, “the United States has just agreed to assist Russia in accessing the global market for its agricultural products.” (Read about it at
)
This will no doubt help keep commodity prices lower and, if done efficiently (Musk will make sure of that), it could rewire markets from U.S. farmers to Russian farmers on into the future.
The US pledge is to reduce sanctions on banks facilitating payments to Russia for their agricultural sales. Meeting this pledge, a new office of Russian Commodity Marketing (RCM) perhaps will be established at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
When a foreign consumer is looking for a good deal, they could call the USDOA Russian Desk and be told that they can access superior Russian wheat at a very low price. Shipping from Russia to customer will be arranged by U.S. Actually, it is probably more efficient use of the Ag Department to serve more than just the United States. Perhaps too, a small commission will be earned from Russian sales that could go to reducing our debt.
If you contacted our federal delegation, I think they would inform you that this is just the kind of deal-making efficiency that President Trump was elected to perform.
To Canada: while increasing the costs of Canadian potash through steep tariffs, the administration will promote less expensive Russian fertilizers that don’t have tariffs. Who’d want the expensive Canadian product?
Even though this provides Russia with additional revenue that could be used to kill Ukrainians, a fella might have to save the money given commodity price reductions caused by Russia reentering the agricultural markets.
Congratulations, Trump negotiating team. You stabbed U.S. farmers in the back bigly.
Joseph Richardson is a resident of Fargo.