The European Union has suspended its planned countermeasures against the U.S. for six months following the recent U.S.-EU tariff agreement.
A spokesperson for the European Commission told Agri-Pulse in an email Monday that the bloc had delayed its planned countermeasures, the first of which was set to go into effect Thursday.
The new agreement “restores stability and predictability for citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,” Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill told Agri-Pulse. “It secures continued access for EU exports to the U.S. market, preserves deeply integrated transatlantic value chains, effectively safeguards millions of jobs, and provides the basis for continued strategic cooperation between the EU and U.S.”
While no text from the agreement has been published, Gill said that both sides are working to finalize a joint statement.
Why it matters: The announcement offers a reprieve for U.S. ag. A slate of farm products had been set for new tariffs from Thursday, with subsequent waves of tariffs due for soybeans, almonds and more than $7 billion in U.S. ag exports.
Trump planning further tariff hikes on India
President Donald Trump says India will soon face another tariff hike, just days after he announced new 25% duties on the country.
Last week the president unveiled India’s new tariff rate of 25% under the so-called reciprocal tariff plan. However, he said at the time that the country would face an additional “penalty” over its continued purchase of Russian products.
On Monday the president reiterated his threat.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”
Take note: Trump last week said that Russia has until Friday to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine or he’d start imposing tariffs.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at the second day of the Great American Farmers Market on the National Mall Monday. From left behind him: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Earlier, Kennedy said "we need to keep farmers as partners in the MAHA movement if we’re going to have nutrient-dense food.” Lawmakers worry about effects of proposed rail merger
Two senators say that, if approved, a proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern could reduce competitive options, raise costs and create service challenges for shippers.
In a letter to the Surface Transportation Board, Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., warned that the merger "has the potential to trigger additional industry consolidation” while citing reports that BNSF Railway and CSX Transportation are also examining a potential deal.
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"In recent years, we have heard from too many U.S. manufacturers, utility companies, agricultural producers and small businesses experiencing service and reliability problems while paying excessive rates,” the letter states. "The railroad industry has proven to be more concerned with increasing their rates and profits rather than improving their service.”
Take note: In a response letter, the board’s members told the two lawmakers they would “evaluate the evidence and argument and consider whether the transaction serves the public interest” when considering the merger application.
SNAP waivers signed for six more states
The number of states with signed SNAP waivers doubled Monday from six to an even dozen, the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments announced Monday.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins signed waivers to amend the statutory definition of food in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The waivers allow those states “to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase and end the subsidization of popular types of junk food beginning in 2026,” a press release said.
Earlier this year Rollins signed waivers for Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho and Utah.
“For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy—products that fuel America’s diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,” Kennedy said in the news release. “These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health.”
Democratic bills would prevent RIFs at Forest Service, Interior, Energy
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House and the Senate would place an immediate moratorium on reductions in force at the Interior and Energy departments, as well as the Forest Service.
Three bills were introduced by Democrats, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, ranking member on the Senate Ag Committee, and Rep. Jared Huffman of California, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee.
The moratorium would be imposed “so employees are protected while Congress conducts oversight and evaluates long-term workforce needs,” the lawmakers’ press release says.
Final Word
“If you were to take all the individual bills, whether it's the [Conservation Reserve Program], the [Farm Service Agency] loan limits and some of the other things that are still remaining, you would see bills that have been introduced in a very bipartisan way. … So I think it's up to all of us to go on offense and to say, ‘Listen, there's pieces left that we want done, throw the politics in the garbage can and let's get it done.’ … It has to be done by the end of the year.” — House Ag Committee member Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., on the farm bill.
Allie Herring, Oliver Ward and Noah Wicks contributed to today’s Daybreak.
