Hyde-Smith defended Trump's tariffs and claimed that it was being used “wisely” even though the impacts of the tariffs are negatively impacting Mississippians throughout the state. Tariffs were contributing to higher grocery prices, higher prices for Mississippi businesses and higher input costs for farmers.
As a result of the trade war caused by the tariffs, China has slowed their purchasing of American soybeans and instead started buying them from other markets, severely harming Mississippian farmers who grow soybeans.
[VIDEO] Hyde-Smith Compared Trump’s Tariffs To “Cleaning Out That Closet” And That “You Got A Mess Before It Gets Better.” “Everybody is so concerned about these tariffs. I'm concerned about these tariffs, I'm getting calls from people, Oh, look what my 401 is doing. Right. And, you know, I just let them know that, yeah, we're in a tough time right now and I understand what you're going through. But again, I compare it to cleaning out that closet. You got a mess before it gets better and we're in the mess.” [SuperTalk Mississippi, 4/9/25]
[VIDEO] Hyde-Smith Claimed That She Supported Trumps Tariffs And That The Tariffs Were Creating A Level Playing Field For Producers. “But, you know, with the ag background, with, you know, my ranchers and farmers out there, you know, I understand that the outlook for the 2025 crop, you know, it's already been grim even before the tariffs were announced. And but I support President Trump's effort. I really do, because he wants to create that level playing field for producers and through increased market access for U.S. exports and by having the guts, the gumption to address these unfair trade barriers and producing fair trade deals, Oh, my gosh, the benefits are truly it's truly outstanding what the benefits can be. Yesterday, Brooke Rollins, our ag secretary, she made the comment that, you know, by the end of the week, we could really start to get good, fair trade deals by the end of the week.” [SuperTalk Mississippi, 4/9/25]
[VIDEO] Hyde-Smith Claimed That Tariffs Were A “Really Good Tool” And That Trump “Knows How To Use That Tool.” “Hyde-Smith said, ‘Well, the T-word, the tariffs. I really think will be short term. I think that it's a really good tool. I think the President knows how to use that tool. And I say all the time, that just means we need to talk. But there's been a lot of unfair trading practices in agriculture.’” [WAPT, 4/23/25]
[VIDEO] Hyde-Smith Claimed That Tariffs, As A Tool, Was Used “Wisely.” “Well, the tariffs are going to be beneficial in many areas. Obviously, they have crushed areas as well. It's a tough, tough deal. When we talk about the T word here and you know, it is used as a tool and I think that it's been used pretty wisely. There's some things that were unintended that different industries got caught up in that we're really having to address now. But in the long run, I really think we're going to be better off. But it's been very hurtful in certain areas, too, and I understand that.” [SuperTalk Mississippi, 9/25/25]
2025: Hyde-Smith Voted Against Terminating The National Emergency That Allowed For Tariffs On Canada. In April 2025, Hyde-Smith voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the joint resolution that would terminate the national emergency declared by the president on Feb. 1, 2025, with respect to Canada’s purported ‘failure to act’ to stop fentanyl and human trafficking at the northern border. The emergency declaration imposed tariffs on most imports from Canada.” The vote was on passage. The Senate passed the resolution by a vote of 51 to 48. [Senate Vote 160, 4/2/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/2/25; Congressional Actions, S.J. Res. 37]
2025: Hyde-Smith Voted Against Terminating The National Emergency Declared By Trump That Allowed For The Imposition Of Global Tariffs. In April 2025, Hyde-Smith voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the joint resolution that would terminate the national emergency declared by President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025, used to impose global tariffs on U.S. trading partners.” The vote was on passage. The Senate rejected the joint resolution by a vote of 49 to 49. [Senate Vote 225, 4/30/25; Congressional Quarterly, 4/30/25; Congressional Actions, S.J.Res. 49]
2025: Hyde-Smith Voted Against Terminating The National Emergency That Allowed Trump To Impose A 40 Percent Tariff On Brazil. In October 2025, Hyde-Smith voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the joint resolution that would terminate the national emergency declared in a July 2025 executive order with respect to imports from Brazil. The executive order imposed an additional 40 percent tariff on Brazilian imports but exempted certain goods, including some metals, energy products and agricultural goods. The executive order also stated that Brazil has taken actions that undermine U.S. national security and economic interests. It accused Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of politically motivated censorship and coercion of U.S. companies. It also accused Brazilian officials of bringing ‘unjustified criminal charges’ against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, among other antidemocratic activities.” The vote was on passage. The Senate agreed to the joint resolution by a vote of 52 to 48. [Senate Vote 594, 10/28/25; Congressional Quarterly, 10/28/25; Congressional Actions, S.J.Res. 81]
2025: Hyde-Smith Effectively Voted Against Terminating The April 2025 National Emergency That Imposed 10 Percent “Reciprocal” Tariffs. In February 2026, Hyde-Smith voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, the joint resolution that would “terminate the national emergency declared by the president in April 2025 with respect to global trade relationships. The emergency declaration imposed a 10 percent baseline tariff on all countries trading with the U.S..” The vote was on passage. The Senate passed the joint resolution by a vote of 51 to 47. [Senate Vote 600, 10/30/25; Congressional Quarterly, 10/30/25; Congressional Actions, S.J.Res. 88]
[VIDEO] Hyde-Smith Claimed That Trump Was Using Tariffs “In A Way That He Understands” And That “Tariffs Have Been Brutal.” “Hyde-Smith said, ‘We're trying to get there. I think the president has used tariffs in a way that he understands…We just want a level playing field.’ She spoke about being at the table and competing with other countries. She said the United States farms wanted a ‘fair chance.’ Hyde-Smith added, ‘The T-word, the tariffs have been brutal. No one said this was not going to be painful. But I really think we're trying to get to a place on the other side that we will benefit from this. But I tell you, it's a rough road right now. I'll be honest with you.’” [RFD-TV, 6/14/25]
HEADLINE: Weather, Heavy Production Costs And Tariffs Rattle Mississippi’s Cotton Industry [Mississippi Public Broadcasting, 9/10/25]
HEADLINE: Mississippi Farmers Drowning In Tariff Debt As China Buys Soybeans From Brazil. 'A Blood Bath' [Clarion Ledger, 10/9/25]
HEADLINE: MS Farmers Speak Out On Trump Aid As Tariffs Take Toll On Ag Economy [Clarion Ledger, 12/9/25]
A Mixture Of Inflation, Tariffs And Rising Costs Created A Perfect Storm For Farmers In Mississippi. According to Clarion Ledger, “The combination of costs rising, inflation, commodity prices down and tariffs, makes for a perfect storm of crisis for Mississippi and the American agriculture community. ‘It has eroded our margins to nonexistent. So, it's a big hit, and there are a lot of farmers who are not going to make it. That's just the way that it is,’ Jack previously said. ‘We are looking at a scenario like the 1980s when so many Delta farmers just got out of the business. There was so much intellectual knowledge that left the business back then. Now, if the same thing happens, I don't know how (the industry) can recover in the long term.’” [Clarion Ledger, 12/9/25]
Mississippi Farmers Faced Tougher Margins Caused By Tariffs With The Soybean Market Having Been Hit Hard. According to Mississippi Public Broadcasting, “Last year, when farmers across the country and Mississippi faced tighter margins caused by the Trump administration’s broad tariff policy, many pulled back acreage for bean crops because of the trade wars born from the situation. Mississippi exports most of its soybeans to China, which is also a major competitor in the trade war. ‘That has definitely had a negative impact on the soybean market,’ said Maples. ‘Producers have been struggling with prices and because our exports to China had been down 80-something percent on soybeans due to the kind of the tariff and trade war.’” [Mississippi Public Broadcasting, 3/27/26]
Tariffs Caused The Steel, Aluminum And Chemicals Used In Farming To Rise Steeply. According to the Mississippi Public Broadcasting, “ While Maples expects farmers in the state to plant more soybeans this year to balance out last year’s high corn output, input costs haven’t helped either. The costs of certain materials after the pandemic skyrocketed, including machinery. Maples said while those prices leveled out, tariffs caused the cost of steel, aluminum and chemicals used in farming to rise steeply. The war in Iran has complicated the costs of various products.” [Mississippi Public Broadcasting, 3/27/26]
Tariffs Were Adding Additional Uncertainty In Mississippi’s Cotton Industry. According to Mississippi Public Broadcasting, “Although the economic conditions around cotton have been precarious for some time, Maples says the added pressure of tariffs have introduced even more uncertainty into the industry.” [Mississippi Public Broadcasting, 9/10/25]
If The Agriculture Industry Craters Than It Would Devastate The Mississippi Delta Economically. According to Clarion Ledger, “However, if the agriculture economy craters over the next five years, it would be devastating to the entire Mississippi Delta economically, and the Delta is already reeling. Larger towns, such as Greenville, Cleveland, Clarksdale and Greenwood, which were built on agriculture, have already been shrinking for years. Smaller towns, such as Indianola, Leland, Ruleville and Drew stand to lose even more. More regression in agriculture could prove fatal to farms. ‘That's what makes me so vocal about it to begin with,’ Baker said. ‘If we start having farms go out of business, it not only affects the farmer, it affects the chemical dealer, then the restaurants, the shops and then spirals from the farm all the way down. It would be a disaster. We can't stand to lose a lot in these Delta towns, because they're not thriving to begin with.’” [Clarion Ledger, 10/9/25]
A Mississippi Farmer Claimed That Trump’s Aid Package Was Not Large Enough To Meet Farmer’s Needs. According to the Clarion Ledger, “‘The aid package is definitely needed across the industry, from the South to the Upper Midwest,’ Jack told the Clarion Ledger. ‘But honestly, it’s not large enough to meet the depth of need we’re facing right now. I think a second round of support will be necessary and sooner rather than later.’” [Clarion Ledger, 12/9/25]
[VIDEO] Small Businesses Like Coffee Shops Had To Raise Prices Just To Get By. “WAPT noted, ‘Tariffs have already had an effect on coffee, now matcha. And Ezra Brown says, he expects imported items like cups and paper goods will also become more expensive, and in turn allow small businesses to raise their prices just to get by.’” [WAPT, 5/16/25]
[VIDEO] Tariffs Rose Prices For Shops In Mississippi. “WLBT noted, ‘Holiday shopping is in full swing, and many of you are looking to find good gifts at even better prices. However, tariffs on imported goods have made their task harder.’ One shop owner said, ‘All during the year, we've been getting updates and letters and things from vendors saying, you know, due to the tariff, we're having to increase the costs, or they're passing on the low tariff prices to us anyhow in the form of, you know, 10% here or 15% there.’” [WLBT, 12/15/25]
HEADLINE: Tariffs May Raise Grocery Prices For Mississippi Shoppers [WJTV, 3/12/25]
Tariffs Were Expected To Raise The Price Of Strawberries, Avocados, And Smart TVs. According to WAPT, “Experts say shoppers could soon see price increases on avocados, strawberries, and even smart TVs. ‘The amount of these increases will depend on how much individual firms pass on these increases. But we can expect the bulk of the increase caused by the tariffs to be passed on to the consumers in the form of higher prices,’ said State Economist Corey Miller. ‘It's going to hurt in the short term — no doubt about it. This trade war is going to hurt. We've already been hurting.’” [WAPT, 3/5/25]
Tariffs Were Expected To Raise The Price Of Cooking Oils, Nuts, Tea And Snacks. According to WJTV, “Shoppers are expected to see an increase in cooking oil, nuts, tea and snacks made by the three countries.” [WJTV, 3/12/25]