Reference News Network, January 29 report: According to AFP, on January 28, US President Donald Trump launched his campaign for the mid-term elections in Iowa. At this time, the United States is experiencing a political storm around immigration and customs enforcement. The public's dissatisfaction with Trump's economic policies has reached an all-time high.
At an event in the agricultural state of Iowa, Trump said, "We must win the 'midterm' elections, otherwise very bad things will happen." He promised to support the biofuel industry. However, his speech was interrupted by protesters. Republicans, who now control Congress, are worried about the decline in Trump's popularity.
According to Reuters, on January 27, US President Trump held a rally in Iowa to try to consolidate his support in this key Midwestern state.
Trump went to Iowa to attract his firm rural supporters. The state will hold key congressional elections in November. However, the continued pressure on the agricultural economy and the delayed implementation of biofuel policies are testing the patience of local farmers and renewable fuel producers.
Like many farmers, 56-year-old corn and beef farmer Lance Lillibridge from Iowa said that the trade war with China and the continuous rise in the cost of seeds and fertilizers have hit him hard.
Lillibridge said, "Everything is terrible right now. I've never been so short of money in my life."
The New York Times website reported on January 27 that US President Trump visited Iowa on the 27th, again trying to prove to Americans that he is focused on improving the "cost of living", but he needs to explain it.
Iowa's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. The state has been struggling under Trump's economic policies, especially his trade policies. Last year, Trump implemented a comprehensive tariff policy, which increased the costs of machinery and materials that many farmers in Iowa rely on. The prices of metal containers used for grain storage have soared, and tractor prices have also risen sharply due to tariffs.
After Trump imposed tariffs on China, Beijing quickly took retaliatory measures, stopping the purchase of American agricultural products. This move caused Iowa's soybean exporters to lose their biggest buyer.
Kirk Litz, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association, said, "This is a serious time for American farmers, especially for soybean and corn growers in the Midwest."
Alan Leaman, chairman of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, said regarding corn and soybeans, "For the two main crops we grow, every bushel produced means a loss."
US rural economy has been in a downturn in recent years, and Iowa is no exception. Since 2021, Iowa's annual economic growth has been about 1%, while the national average is 2.5%. (Translation/ Hu Wei, Wu Mei, Lu Longjun)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7600762561349091883/
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