** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BARRIERS TO TRADE HAVE INCREASED GLOBALLY IN RECENT YEARS; YET THERE IS LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE RURAL LABOR MARKET IMPACTS OF CHANGES IN TRADE POLICIES. THIS PROJECT BEGINS TO FILL THIS GAP BY MEASURING EFFECTS ON RURAL EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES OF CHANGES IN EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN TARIFFS AND NONTARIFF MEASURES (NTMS) ON CROPS, LIVESTOCK, AND NON-FARM GOODS PRODUCED AND EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES, CONTROLLING ALSO FOR U.S. TARIFFS AND NTMS ON IMPORTS OF GOODS THAT MIGHT COMPETE WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS. RECENT ECONOMIC LITERATURE HAS FOCUSED ON NEGATIVE EMPLOYMENT AND WAGE IMPACTS IN THE UNITED STATES CAUSED BY INCREASED IMPORT COMPETITION FROM CHINA. HOWEVER, SINCE THE UNITED STATES IS A NET EXPORTER OF AGRICULTURAL GOODS, FOREIGN TARIFFS ON U.S. CROPS AND LIVESTOCK, WHICH MIGHT INCREASE IN RESPONSE TO U.S. TARIFFS, COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT WAGES AND EMPLOYMENT IN U.S. AGRICULTURAL-BASED COMMUNITIES. THIS MIGHT BE ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IF WORKERS ARE NOT PERFECTLY MOBILE ACROSS LOCATIONS ORINDUSTRIES, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN RURAL REGIONS. THUS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND TRADE POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS IN RURAL, AS WELL AS URBAN, REGIONS. FINDINGS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL BE USED TO INFORM POLICYMAKERS, INDUSTRY LEADERS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND RURAL COMMUNITY PLANNERS.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators