President Donald Trump took office for the second time Monday, declaring that the “golden age of America begins right now,” and laying out top policy priorities that include raising tariffs, reclaiming the Panama Canal, securing the southern border and ending the “Green New Deal.” Following his 30-minute address, Trump began issuing executive orders well into the evening. Many of those could have major implications on the agriculture industry.
  
Trump issued an order freezing any rules that have yet to be finalized. Under the executive order, rules will be frozen and reexamined by the agency in charge and the White House Office of Management and Budget. The rules are postponed for at least 60 days and will reopen comment periods to "provide comments about issues of fact, law, and policy raised by the rules" in the order.
 
Notably to the fertilizer industry, Trump did not immediately impose 25% tariffs on Canada or Mexico. Instead, Trump announced the creation of a new government office known as the External Revenue Service. He says the office will be responsible for collecting tariffs on imports. Trump later said he may impose those tariffs on Feb. 1, as well as tariffs on China, the European Union and other nations. 
 
IFCA and our national partners have expressed concerns to the new administration how bad a 25% tariff would be with more than 90% of the potash used in Illinois coming from Canada.