When the Washington Commanders’ quarterback Marcus Mariota landed a last-second touchdown pass to clinch victory against the Dallas Cowboys in January, it’s unlikely devastated Cowboys fans were thinking about turf underlay, or the small Dutch town where it’s made.
Privately-owned TenCate Grass, based in Nijverdal, about two hours drive east of Amsterdam, engineers artificial grass for gardens, schools and sports grounds, from municipal facilities to the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The firm manufactures in 11 countries and distributes turf to customers in more than 60, but around 75% of its sales come from the United States. That means it’s exposed to American trade policy, which, since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, has been erratic. On so-called "Liberation Day,” April 2, Trump announced a blanket 20% tariff on EU goods coming into the United States. That was dropped to 10% while the parties negotiated — during which time, Trump threatened higher rates of 30% and 50%.
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