March 2026
Florida Farm Bureau continues to monitor federal issues that impact farmers and ranchers, including the Farm Bill and trade policies.
Tariff Policy Update Following Supreme Court Ruling
Recent developments at the U.S. Supreme Court have significantly reshaped the national trade policy conversation.
In a 6–3 decision, the Court ruled that the President does not have authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs, determining that Congress — not the executive branch — holds primary constitutional authority over tariffs. The decision invalidated a large share of tariffs implemented using emergency powers and directed federal agencies to halt collection of those duties.
Following the ruling:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it would stop collecting the affected tariffs, with billions of dollars in previously collected duties potentially subject to ongoing legal disputes over refunds.
- The Administration has quickly pivoted to alternative legal authorities to maintain its broader trade strategy.
- New tariffs — reportedly around 15% on certain imports — are being implemented under different sections of existing trade law, including authorities tied to national security and unfair trade practices.
Administration officials have emphasized that U.S. tariff policy itself is not changing in direction, only the legal pathway used to implement it. In practical terms, this means continued reliance on tariffs as a negotiating and economic tool, despite the Court limiting emergency powers authority.
What this means moving forward:
The ruling reinforces Congress’s role in trade policy while creating short-term uncertainty for importers, exporters, and agricultural markets as new tariff authorities are tested and potential refund litigation proceeds.
Farm Bill Update: Process Moving Forward
Congress continues to work on a long-overdue reauthorization of the Farm Bill, now titled the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026.
The House Agriculture Committee had planned to begin markup the week of February 23; however, a major East Coast winter storm forced postponement due to travel and attendance disruptions on Capitol Hill.
The markup is now expected to occur March 2–3, 2026, when members return to Washington.
Farm Bill High-Level Overview
While negotiations are ongoing, the draft legislation broadly aims to:
- Update farm safety net programs and risk management tools
- Strengthen conservation and working lands programs
- Expand support for specialty crops and research
- Modernize credit and rural development programs
- Improve food security and supply chain resilience
Agricultural organizations have emphasized that passage of a new Farm Bill is critical, as producers are still operating under policies largely unchanged since 2018 despite significant economic and market challenges.
The upcoming markup represents the next major step toward advancing the bill out of committee, with stakeholders continuing to push for a bipartisan path forward to ensure certainty for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.