Trump Turns to a Rarely Used Law
Instead of pursuing lengthy legislative negotiations, Trump relied on a little-known provision that has existed for nearly a century.
Section 318 of the Tariff Act of 1930 gives a president authority to suspend import duties during emergencies when the country’s food supply could be placed at risk. The power has only been used sparingly over the decades, with President Harry Truman invoking it during the Korean War.
Trump signed a proclamation Monday that temporarily removes tariffs on phosphate fertilizer imported from Morocco, easing restrictions for as long as eight months.
The administration says the move suspends duties reaching as high as 20 percent, allowing more fertilizer to reach American farms during a period of unusually high demand.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins highlighted the expected impact of the decision.
She said the action will reduce phosphate fertilizer prices by approximately 22 percent while saving American farmers an estimated $1.82 billion each year.
Morocco remains one of the world’s largest phosphate suppliers, controlling roughly 70 percent of known global reserves. Yet for years, significant import duties—at times climbing to 47 percent—limited American access to that supply.
The Administration Says Previous Policies Drove Costs Higher
Supporters of the White House argue today’s fertilizer shortage did not appear overnight.
The dispute began after a domestic fertilizer producer filed a complaint in 2020 alleging that Morocco and Russia unfairly subsidized phosphate exports. The Biden administration later imposed countervailing duties on Moroccan fertilizer imports in 2021.
According to an analysis by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, those tariffs increased production costs for American farmers by roughly $6.9 billion between 2021 and 2025.
Those additional expenses, critics argue, were ultimately passed along to growers who already faced higher prices for fuel, equipment, and labor throughout multiple planting seasons.
Then global instability added another layer of pressure.
Following military action involving the United States, Israel, and Iran earlier this year, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz affected one of the world’s most important shipping corridors. The route carries as much as 30 percent of global seaborne fertilizer trade, making any interruption significant for agricultural markets.
According to the administration, diesel prices for farmers climbed 46 percent while fertilizer costs surged by as much as 47 percent.
Trump’s proclamation also acknowledged that existing American phosphate production cannot satisfy domestic demand after export commitments are considered.
Rather than allowing farmers to absorb those shortages during planting season, the administration chose to temporarily expand access to imported fertilizer.
Farm Organizations Welcome the Decision
Several major agricultural organizations responded positively to the announcement.
The American Soybean Association described the move as relief farmers need while preparing for the 2027 crop year.
The National Corn Growers Association likewise welcomed the decision, saying lower fertilizer costs could provide meaningful help during a difficult economic environment.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall also praised the action, calling it overdue assistance arriving when producers have little room left to absorb additional expenses.
These organizations often represent different sectors of agriculture and do not always agree on policy. Their shared support for the administration’s announcement underscored how widespread concerns over fertilizer costs have become across rural America.
Rollins also warned fertilizer suppliers against exploiting international tensions to raise prices unnecessarily.
She pledged that the administration would closely monitor the market and insisted President Trump remains committed to protecting American farmers from price gouging during the ongoing crisis.
White House Draws Contrast With Congressional Democrats
The administration also contrasted its actions with those of congressional Democrats.
During a June 10 Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Senator Raphael Warnock questioned Rollins about whether tariffs were increasing costs for farmers.
Administration supporters argue that while lawmakers debated the issue during committee hearings, the White House ultimately delivered a policy change.
Nineteen days after that hearing, Trump signed the emergency proclamation reducing tariffs that many farm organizations had long sought to eliminate.
Supporters say the difference reflects two competing approaches to governing—one centered on hearings and political debate, the other focused on executive action.
The fertilizer announcement also follows earlier administration efforts aimed at strengthening agriculture, including invoking the Defense Production Act earlier this year to support domestic phosphorus production and signing an executive order in June intended to accelerate agricultural innovation.
Taken together, administration officials argue these actions represent a broader strategy. While expanding domestic fertilizer production remains a long-term objective, they contend America’s farmers cannot wait years for new facilities to come online. By temporarily easing import restrictions while investing in future production, the White House says it is attempting to provide immediate relief for growers facing another challenging planting season.
