This weekend, hundreds of thousands of people are attending the Iowa State Fair – a major attraction featuring several days of entertainment, a rodeo and even a life-size butter cow that’s been carved every year since 1911.
Much like the Calgary Stampede in Canada, the Iowa State Fair is a crucial stop for politicians to meet voters, making it a hotbed for political debates – especially when U. S. midterms are coming up.
And this year, one of the topics on Iowans’ minds is U. S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.
“This policy has been very chaotic, and our farmers have struggled to figure out what’s going on,” said Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation family farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union.
“If we were getting to a situation that meant fairer trade eventually for farmers, I think farmers would understand that sometimes it’s necessary to go through some pain. But we’re not seeing us getting any closer.
Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation family farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union, says Trump’s economic agenda is damaging his relationship with Iowa farmers and families, and it’s making the midterm races much more competitive than years prior. (Kory Siegers/CBC)
“We’ve lost many international customers of ours who no longer see us as reliable trade partners and they’re going to countries where they have a more predictable trade policy, more reasonable trade policy.”
For farmers like Lehman, that economic pain may reach another level in just a few days. Canada is Iowa’s largest export market, accounting for 30 per cent of the state’s total goods exports in 2025, according to the U. S. government.
But that key trading relationship could be upended on Aug. 19, if Trump imposes his threatened 50 per cent tariffs on hundreds of Canadian goods. The two countries are working over the weekend to secure a trade deal, but it so far remains out of reach.
Lehman told he’s trying to bring his son into his farm’s operations, but with so much economic chaos it’s difficult to plan any kind of succession. Instead, he’s had to hunker down and focus on getting the next crop planted and harvested.
“So it’s a scary time for our farm,” Lehman said.
‘For decades we have had major trade issues with Canada,’ says Greer
Speaking in Des Moines, Iowa, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said there are ‘a lot of issues’ with Canada after being asked by a CBC reporter if there were particular areas the two countries couldn’t find agreement on. Greer said that for the U. S., the current situation ‘is not a trade war,’ but if a country retaliates ‘we’re obviously not going to tolerate that.’
Lehman said Trump’s economic policies are damaging his relationship with Iowa farmers, and it’s showing up in political polling ahead of the midterm elections in November.
During the last gubernatorial race in 2022, the Republican candidate Kim Reynolds beatthe Democratic challenger by more than 200000 votes. Inthe2024 presidential election Trump won thestatebyasimilar margin-a huge victory.
Butin2026, pollingsuggests Democratsareeitherinthelead orverycompetitiveinkeyraces, suchastheonesfor Iowa governoror U. S. senator.
“All indicationsarethatconditionsareextremelydifficult,” Lehman said.”Farmers ordinaryfamiliesareallstrugglingtogetby, andsoourracesareveryverycompetitiveforthefirsttimeinanumberofyears.”
On Friday, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassleytold The Canadian Pressthat Trumplikelyusinghis tariffthreatagainst Canadaasalever, andthe Canadiangovernmentshouldviewhimovem asawakeningcalltomakechanges. Grassleysaidthere’snothingwrongwith Canadaandthe U. Shavingtoughnegotiationsbuttheycan’tbeallowedtounderminetrilateraltradeagreementknownas CUSMA
“Thesepresentationscannotbeusedasawayofdestroying[ CUSMA],” Grassleysaid.
On Friday Canada-U. STrade Minister Dominic Le Blancbriefedhisprovincialandterritorial counterpartsonthestateofthenegotiations. Healsoheldaseparatebriefingwithmembersofprime minister’sadvisorycommitteeon Canada-U. Seconomicrelations. Thesourcesarefamiliarwiththebriefingsbutwere notauthorizedtospeakpublicly. Thefederalgovernmenthas toldtheprovincesbereadyassoonaspossibletoput Americanalcoholbackontheshelvesincaseatariffdealisreached, sourcessaid. WATCH | Former Conservativeleader Erin O’Tooleon Canada-U. Stradetalks:
‘Our successcanbetheirsuccess’: Erin O’Toolelearnedthat Friday Canada-U. Stardominic Le Blanctoldthepremiers etreadytogetusboozebackontheshelves shouldthet wocountriesreachatradeagreementalthough Ottawabelievesthesuchadealisstillyettocome. Power& Politics hearsfrom Erin O’Toole, theformerleaderofthe Conservative Partyof Canadaanda memberoftheadvisory Committee for Canada-USEconomic Relations.
Inaddition, thefederalgovernmenthasalsoaskedprovincesandterritoriestobepreparedtodropretaliatoryprocurementrules thatfavor Canadiansuppliersincase adealismade, sourcessaid.
Trumpcitedcomplaintsaboutprovincialboozebans, dairyimportquotasandautotariffsinthreateningthenewtariffs. Industrysourcespreviouslytold that Canadiannegotiatorshave aggressivelymadeitclear theyseethe Aug19date asaclifftypemomentmeaningtherewouldbenopoliticalappetiteamong Canadians tokep talksgoingif50 percenttariffscomeintoeffect.
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Trump ‘ pushed a lot of people away’
Other farmers who spoke to in Iowa also expressed concern about Trump’s economic agenda, especially toward Canada. Jack Ploen, who farms about 80 hectares in Avoca, Iowa, said Canada is “our most valuable partner in the world and in the trading sector.” “I’m a Republican, but I think Donald went too far in some of the things he does,” Ploen said. “And he’s pushed a lot of people away. A lot of countries are standoffish with us because of his policies. I support some of what he does but not everything.” WATCH | U. S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on irritants with Canada:
‘For decades we have had major trade issues with Canada,’ says Greer
Speaking in Des Moines, Iowa, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said there are ‘a lot of issues’ with Canada after being asked by a CBC reporter if there were particular areas the two countries couldn’t find agreement on. Greer said that for the U. S., the current situation ‘is not a trade war,’ but if a country retaliates ‘we’re obviously not going to tolerate that.’
Lehman said Trump’s economic policies are damaging his relationship with Iowa farmers, and it’s showing up in political polling ahead of the midterm elections in November.
During the last gubernatorial race in 2022, the Republican candidate Kim Reynolds beatthe Democratic challenger by more than 200000 votes. Inthe2024 presidential election Trump won thestatebyasimilar margin-a huge victory.
Butin2026, pollingsuggests Democratsareeitherinthelead orverycompetitiveinkeyraces, suchastheonesfor Iowa governoror U. S. senator.
“All indicationsarethatconditionsareextremelydifficult,” Lehman said.”Farmers ordinaryfamiliesareallstrugglingtogetby, andsoourracesareveryverycompetitiveforthefirsttimeinanumberofyears.”
Trump officialin Iowadefends tariff tactics
On Friday atamanufacturing facilityin Iowa, U. S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greertouted Trump’seconomicstrategyandsaidthe U. S. governmentiscommittedtomaking Americanindustrycompetitivewithtariffsandtaxcuts. “We’re seeingatransitionfromaneconomythatwasfocusedongovernmentspendinggovernmentjobs subsidiesforalldifferentprogramstoaneconomythat’sfocusedon Americanworkers,”Greersaid. Iowan Republicansservinginthe U. S. Houseand Senatehavetryedtostradlethelineon Trump’stariffs. In February allfour House representativesvotedto uphold Trump’s tariff authority, butoneofthe four-Zach Nunn-saidhecouldseehimselfbreakingranksonthisissue. <img Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, left, speakswith U. S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greerduringavisittothe Iowa State Fairin Des Moineson Friday.(Kelly Geraldine Malone/The Canadian Press) Ashley Hinson, the Republicannomineein2026U. S. Senateelectionin Iowa haspreviouslysaidthe Canada-U. S.-Mexico Agreementshouldberenewedbutsomechangesshouldbemadeforfairermarketaccess.On Friday, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassleytold The Canadian Pressthat Trumplikelyusinghis tariffthreatagainst Canadaasalever, andthe Canadiangovernmentshouldviewhimovem asawakeningcalltomakechanges. Grassleysaidthere’snothingwrongwith Canadaandthe U. Shavingtoughnegotiationsbuttheycan’tbeallowedtounderminetrilateraltradeagreementknownas CUSMA
“Thesepresentationscannotbeusedasawayofdestroying[ CUSMA],” Grassleysaid.
Where Canada-UStalksstand
<p Despiteaflurryofnegotiationstowardatariffdealthispastweekthatwereexpectedtostretchintothisweekend, sources tell that Canadaandthe U. S. remainfarapartas Trump'sdeadlinelooms. Thesourcessaidthefederalgovernmentdoesnotbelieveatariffdealisimminentbecause therearestillmajordisagreementsbetweenthetwosides. Onesourcewithknowledgeofthetalkssaidoptimismonthe Canadiansideiserodingandthe Americansarenotbudgingfromtheirlatestoffer Thatofferincludesaproposalthatcouldseethesectoraltariffsonautoshalvedto12.5percentanofferthe CanadiansidebelievesisnotgoodenoughthesourcesaidOn Friday Canada-U. STrade Minister Dominic Le Blancbriefedhisprovincialandterritorial counterpartsonthestateofthenegotiations. Healsoheldaseparatebriefingwithmembersofprime minister’sadvisorycommitteeon Canada-U. Seconomicrelations. Thesourcesarefamiliarwiththebriefingsbutwere notauthorizedtospeakpublicly. Thefederalgovernmenthas toldtheprovincesbereadyassoonaspossibletoput Americanalcoholbackontheshelvesincaseatariffdealisreached, sourcessaid. WATCH | Former Conservativeleader Erin O’Tooleon Canada-U. Stradetalks:
‘Our successcanbetheirsuccess’: Erin O’Toolelearnedthat Friday Canada-U. Stardominic Le Blanctoldthepremiers etreadytogetusboozebackontheshelves shouldthet wocountriesreachatradeagreementalthough Ottawabelievesthesuchadealisstillyettocome. Power& Politics hearsfrom Erin O’Toole, theformerleaderofthe Conservative Partyof Canadaanda memberoftheadvisory Committee for Canada-USEconomic Relations.
Inaddition, thefederalgovernmenthasalsoaskedprovincesandterritoriestobepreparedtodropretaliatoryprocurementrules thatfavor Canadiansuppliersincase adealismade, sourcessaid.
Trumpcitedcomplaintsaboutprovincialboozebans, dairyimportquotasandautotariffsinthreateningthenewtariffs. Industrysourcespreviouslytold that Canadiannegotiatorshave aggressivelymadeitclear theyseethe Aug19date asaclifftypemomentmeaningtherewouldbenopoliticalappetiteamong Canadians tokep talksgoingif50 percenttariffscomeintoeffect.Source link
