Trump Administration and Floriculture: Labor and Tariff Policy Updates
September 4, 2025 On occasion, the editorial team at Greenhouse Grower and Meister Media Worldwide will bring you the latest updates from the Trump administration’s policies and their impact on floriculture, from labor to the farm bill to funding for anything from federal loans to research and Extension. We also want to hear from you. What questions do you have about immigration enforcement, tariffs, or other topics? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to get you answers.
Here’s our update for Sept. 4.
Labor Update From AmericanHort
AmericanHort recently submitted comments supporting the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposal to rescind the 2024 H-2A Final Rule entitled “Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States,” which had imposed costly and legally questionable mandates on agricultural employers. The rule’s provisions on retaliation, progressive discipline, third-party housing access, and wage disclosures created confusion and were blocked by multiple courts. AmericanHort urged the Department to finalize rescission quickly, preserve the 14-day adjustment period for new AEWR rates, and revise the successor-in-interest definition to avoid unfair penalties for new farm operators. The comments also thanked the Administration and DOL for reducing red tape and supporting the horticulture industry.
Tariffs Challenged Again
On Friday, August 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7–4 that President Trump exceeded his authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing broad tariffs. The ruling upholds a May decision from the U.S. Court of International Trade, which had also found that IEEPA does not grant presidents sweeping tariff powers.
The decision covers Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, including the EU, Japan, South Korea, China, Canada, and Mexico, as well as tariffs tied to fentanyl trafficking. The court delayed implementation of the decision until October 14, giving the administration time to appeal. The White House has confirmed it will take the case to the Supreme Court, meaning tariffs remain in place while litigation continues.
How One Supplier Is Responding
One major horticultural products supplier recently sent out the following notice:
“Dear Valued Customer,
We are writing to inform you of pricing increases due to tariff agreements between the U.S. and European Union (EU). As you are probably aware, not all imports are tariffed the same and not all countries agreed to trade deals with the United States.
Our business objective is to source the world’s best products, at the right price, so you can accomplish your business objectives. A number of the items we offer for sale originate from countries outside the United States. Therefore, these are subject to potential tariff duties.
We closely manage our business financial model and cost infrastructure so that
- You, the customer, receive competitive pricing on products purchased, coupled with premier customer service and technical expertise.
- Our vendors have access to trusted CEA markets and sales channels for their products.
Tariffs impact all parties involved in international trade.
To provide greater transparency regarding imposed tariffs, starting September 1, 2025, we will segregate tariff duties for items on separate lines on invoices. This allows you to see the impact of tariffs on the total cost of your purchased items. You will notice the tariff charges do not align exactly with what you hear or read in the news. We are (and have been) absorbing what we can, while only passing on to clients what is necessary. We are making this process as transparent as possible. It is not our goal to make extra money due to tariffs.”
Other Headlines
The International Fresh Produce Association posted a Tariff Fact Sheet, which you can find here.
How to Efficiently Allocate Production Resources for 2026: Industry experts share strategies to lock in supplies, manage risk, and keep 2026 production plans on track.
Greenhouse Grower to Grower Podcast: A Preview of AmericanHort’s Impact Washington With Matt Mika. Listen here.
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