Author: Andrew Muhammad, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

Lumber, especially softwood lumber like pine and spruce, is critical to U.S. home construction. Its availability and price directly affect housing costs and broader economic activity in the building sector. The U.S. imports about 40% of the softwood lumber the nation uses each year, more than 80% of that from Canada. President Donald Trump says […]

Although technically they’re a fruit, tomatoes are one of the most-consumed vegetables, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Among the fresh produce the nation buys from foreign countries, tomatoes often rank first or second, behind avocados. This trade is now jeopardized because the Trump administration has revived a three-decade-old effort to limit imports. As […]

If all the tariff drama in the news lately has you reaching for a stiff drink, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, those same tariffs might make it harder to get your hands on your favorite brand of tequila. In early March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump levied import tariffs of 25% on goods from Canada and […]