'I'm not even sure it's legal': New York farmer in disbelief at Trump tariffs imposed on critical cow feed (2025)

Rudro Chakrabarti

Fri, Apr 18, 2025, 9:00 PM 2 min read

Nicholas Gilbert, a dairy farmer who operates Adon Farms in upstate New York, experienced tariff sticker shock when a routine shipment of cow feed from Ontario cost him $2,200 more than expected.

“I’m not even sure it’s legal! We contracted for the price on delivery,” he told The Atlantic. “If your price of fuel goes up or your truck breaks down, that’s not my problem! That’s what the contract’s for.”

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Unfortunately for Gilbert, the tariff is very much legal. Like many American business owners, he mistakenly believed that tariffs on imported goods would be paid by the foreign exporter.

In reality, the charge was imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and passed directly to him.

"We’re taking that right on the chin,” Gilbert tells the magazine, explaining that he would have to pay tariffs on the fertilizer and farm equipment he buys too.

Gilbert's comments quickly went viral on Reddit subreddit r/Canada, where sympathy from Canadians was in short supply.

"How can an adult believe that the president of one country could force an exporter in another country to pay a tax on his or her behalf? How would that even work?" says one user.

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Gilbert is hardly alone as Trump's international trade war continues on. Many industries, including manufacturing and construction, are seeing rising costs. Consumers aren't safe either.

The average family is expected to pay an estimated $3,800 more a year for groceries, clothing, furniture, cars and more.

Cars in particular are expected to see a 15% to 20% increase in prices.

With costs climbing across the board, economists are sounding alarms over rising recession risks. At the Canadian border, The Atlantic asserts the recession is already here.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.