Trade Talk: Tariffs and Global Update
Lyndi Allen
April 17, 2025
Recent changes in the trade tariffs continue to influence agriculture markets and export opportunities. This update will provide a summary of current developments that affect Illinois corn farmers. IL Corn is closely monitoring the changes and their potential impacts on market access, input costs, and farmer profitability.
Tariff Developments
- The U.S. announced a temporary 90-day pause on certain tariffs, referred as the “Liberation Day” tariffs.
- In response, China announced new retaliatory tariffs on select U.S. products.
- The U.S. also implemented an across-the-board 10% import tax on wide range of goods.
Global Update
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a WASDE visualization tool, which provides a better understanding of global supply and demand over time.
- According to the latest WASDE report, domestic demand for U.S. corn remains relatively flat.

* FSI = food/seed/industrial uses
IL Corn will continue to track tariff development and global market trends that may affect Illinois corn farmers. We are committed to keeping you informed with relevant information as changes occur.

By Tara Desmond
•
October 15, 2026
Jenny Webb has spent her career in Illinois agriculture. Now she’s about three months into a new job as president of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), the group that represents the ag retailers, applicators and suppliers who get fertilizer and crop protection products to your farm when you need them. Webb came to IFCA from Illinois Farm Bureau. She’s new to the fertilizer and chemical side of the business, but not to farmers or to the policy and regulatory issues that affect them. IL Corn sat down with her to talk about what she’s learned so far, the issues facing Illinois ag retailers, and why the work happening behind the scenes deserves more credit than it gets.





