Threat of soybean tariffs raise fears among Maryland farmers, and questions about 'America first'

It’s planting time for Eastern Shore farmer Jason Scott, and as he buries seeds in a dozen dusty rows at a time, prices for his soybean crops are strong.

The excitement of this day, he says, is rivaled only by the harvest, when he learns just how much he has grown, and what it’s going to be worth.

But when that day comes, will the beans be worth so much?

For Scott and other farmers in this mostly Republican region of the state, the threat of a trade war with China, motivated by the America first philosophy that propelled President Donald Trump into office, looms over the start of this growing season. Farmers are uneasy as the Trump administration brokers tariff negotiations that are aimed at helping U.S. steel and aluminum compete with foreign imports — but which could also provoke retaliation from China that could send soybean prices plummeting.

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