PRESS RELEASE – May 12, 2025

American Food Producers Welcome Trade Deals, Call for Targeted Tariffs to Increase Food Security

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 12, 2025 –

On the heels of a historic trade win, a coalitionrepresenting four American food industries praised President Trump’s “America First” leadership, while calling for targeted tariffs on imported honey, catfish, crawfish, and shrimp to counter years of predatory trade practices.

The coalition—comprising the American Honey Producers Association, Catfish Farmers of America, Crawfish Processors Alliance, Louisiana Farm Bureau Crawfish Committee, and Southern Shrimp Alliance—warned in a joint letter that American food security is at risk without immediate action against dumped imports from Vietnam, China, India, and other nations. These vital industries risk collapse, undermining rural economies and American agricultural independence, absent strategic intervention.

“President Trump understands what previous administrations missed—food security is national security,” said Steven Coy, president of the American Honey Producers Association. “After 25 years of damaging trade policies, American beekeepers need decisive intervention or face extinction. Strong targeted tariffs would allow domestic producers to rebuild while ensuring pollination services critical to over 130 U.S. crops valued at $20 billion.”

The coalition’s letter details how foreign producers have systematically undermined U.S. food industries through government subsidies, unsafe production methods, currency manipulation, and trade barrier abuse.

For the full coalition letter, please click HERE!