As he prepares to leave Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is warning the next administration about the impact of global markets on U.S. farmers.
Democrat Tom Vilsack’s quick to point out he’s not privy to any information from the Republican president-elect. But he’s worried about how Donald Trump will approach immigration and trade. Vilsack says bad decisions could spur retaliation from China and Mexico—two of our top three trading partners.
"If you destroy markets and you don't have a workforce, it won't make any difference what the regulations are or aren't," Vilsack says. "And it certainly won't make any difference what the tax rules are because there won't be anything purchased or sold. Markets will shrink."
And, Vilsack adds, the sector hardest hit will likely be agriculture. U.S. farmers exported nearly $40 billion worth of agricultural goods to China and Mexico last year.
