Cut Food Prices Now: End Biden’s Backdoor Farm & Food Tax

Cut Food Prices Now: End Biden's Backdoor Farm & Food Tax

U.S. farmers have faced soaring fertilizer costs since 2021, when the Biden administration introduced duties on imported phosphate. These taxes, designed to protect a single domestic producer, have pushed prices up by over 140% and forced consumers to pay more for food. Now, lawmakers and industry groups are calling for the policy to be reversed.

The duties were first imposed in 2021 as countervailing taxes on phosphate imports, a crucial ingredient in fertilizers. Almost immediately, farmers saw costs skyrocket, with prices per ton rising by thousands of dollars. The financial strain was passed directly to shoppers, driving up food prices across the country.

While the policy aimed to support one major U.S. fertilizer company, it left farmers, consumers, and smaller producers bearing the extra costs. At the same time, foreign competitors like Brazil and China expanded their own production, redirecting exports and gaining a stronger foothold in global markets. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has already begun pushing to scrap the duties before their scheduled review in 2026. Restoring access to cheaper imports—particularly from allies such as Morocco—could help lower costs for U.S. farmers and improve their competitiveness. The move would also ease pressure on food prices by increasing supply and reducing market distortions.

The duties have so far benefited a single U.S. firm while raising expenses for nearly everyone else. If reversed, the change could cut food costs by boosting supply and reducing fertilizer prices. The next opportunity for policy reform arrives in 2026, unless Congress or a new administration acts sooner.