Colorado Ag Exports

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the farm sector is "rightfully concerned" that President Trump's plan for steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminum could trigger retaliatory tariffs on U.S. ag exports,

Colorado Agriculture Department's Tom Lipetzky says a recent survey found trade and exports already top of mind for state producers before the Trump tariffs were announced.

"We saw that turn up both as a challenge, in terms of policy and direction of the Trump administration but we also saw trade show up as on of the key opportunities."

Economists say Canada, is by far the biggest foreign supplier of both metals to the US and therefore stood to be hurt the most by the tariffs. The Trump administration says it will exempt Canada and Mexico so long as they negotiate a new North American Free Trade Agreement favorable to the US. But some critics worry difficult NAFTA talks could further deteriorate.