The prospect of new tariff disputes when Donald Trump returns to the White House has the global economy in an uncertain position in early 2025. Farm Policy News says ongoing geopolitical tensions and continuing climate challenges will significantly impact agricultural trade and producer profitability during the year. The global economic landscape in 2024 was shaped by falling inflation and moderate expansion. However, a Rabobank market researcher says the implementation of U.S. tariffs would run the risk of fragmenting global trade and financial flows that could particularly hit developing nations with high dollar-debt exposure hard. Meantime, the outlook for the U.S. rural economy is also uncertain. The outcome of the 2024 election cycle promises to bring a significant change to the federal government’s approach to everything, including international trade, immigration, energy exploration, and rural economic development. The high level of policy uncertainty is adding to the headwinds rural America already faces.
U.S. and global ag economies uncertain about 2025
