TODAY: MISSOURI IS PAYING FROM BOTH SIDES
Tariffs aren’t just policy. They’re pain. They’re pressure. They’re the price you pay — whether it’s hidden on your bill or stamped on your receipt.
Still wondering how tariffs work? You’re not alone. Let’s break it down — and ask the hard questions that really matter.
What’s a Tariff?
It’s an extra tax. Plain and simple. It kicks in every time a product crosses a border.
So, what happens when Missouri exports corn, pork, soy, or beef? The foreign government taxes the shipment at its border.
And what happens when we import tools, auto parts, or electronics? Our government charges a tariff at our border.
Who gets hit first? The business does.
Who gets hit next? That cost ripples down to you.
Who Pays the Tariff? Technically, the importer pays it upfront.
But in reality? Every link in the supply chain gets hit hard.
Ask yourself: What happens when a Missouri farmer loses a contract because foreign buyers walk away? What happens when a small business can’t afford its next shipment of parts or tools?
Do they raise prices? Are they forced to cut staff? Do they take on debt — or even close their doors? These aren’t abstract questions. They affect real lives and futures.
Let’s Talk Corn Missouri corn prices on April 11th ranged from: • $4.35 per bushel in Northwest Missouri • $4.75 per bushel in Southwest Missouri • Average: about $4.60 per bushel
Imagine a farmer selling $100,000 worth of corn at $4.60 per bushel — that’s roughly over 21,739 bushels in a solid shipment.
Now, hit that with China’s 125% tariff on U.S. agricultural exports: That shipment now costs the Chinese buyer an extra $125,000 because of tariffs, totaling about $225,000.
What do you think will happen? They’ll walk away. They’ll buy corn from Brazil or Argentina — because it’s cheaper.
Then ask: What happens to that Missouri farmer’s livelihood when contracts vanish? How will thinner margins impact their family, their land, their future? This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about real people who feed us.
What About Tools and Parts? Imagine you’re a small manufacturer in Boone County importing $100,000 worth of electronic components from China.
With a 145% tariff, you now owe an extra $145,000 at the border — purely in tax.
That pushes your total cost to roughly $245,000.
Can you pass this extra cost to your customers without jeopardizing your business? Or will you be forced to cut wages, delay shipments, or even lay off staff? When a family-owned shop shuts down, what happens to those workers’ rent, groceries, and the care of their families?
This isn’t merely about trade deficits — it’s about the day-to-day struggles of people’s lives.
Bottom Line: • Missouri’s exports are being priced out of global markets. • Missouri’s imports are becoming outrageously expensive.
So ask yourself: Who pays the price? Who gets hurt? Who’s going to keep their jobs — and who’s about to lose everything?
Because this isn’t just “tough on China.” It’s a full-on crisis for the people who grow, build, fix, and move things in Missouri.