Evolving U.S. Tariffs on Agri-Food Imports and Farm Inputs: From Broad Measures to Targeted Exemptions

The August 2026 NDSU Agricultural Trade Monitor examines how U.S. tariff treatment of food imports and farm inputs changed as policy moved from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and then to actions under Sections 301 and 232. Agricultural exclusions introduced in November 2025 were generally retained and expanded. The share of food and agricultural imports receiving zero additional duty increased from 56.7 percent under Section 122 to 62.6 percent under the current Section 301 measures, while the average additional tariff remained broadly stable at 4.2 percent compared with 4.3 percent under Section 122. Unroasted coffee, cocoa beans, beef and beef products, bananas, and avocados now face no additional duty. Tariff exposure on seeds and most fertilizers also fell to little or zero. Agricultural machinery followed a different path, remaining subject to higher Section 232 rates after a June 2026 reduction, while the treatment of some agricultural chemicals depends on end use. The report also reviews suspended Section 338 action involving selected Canadian products and a separate Section 301 investigation into structural excess capacity across 16 economies.