Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 25 July 2018

U.S. announces billions to help farmers hurt by Trump tariffs

Republicans quickly dis- tion that will give President renegotiate trade agree-
missed the plan, declaring Trump and his administra- ments that he said have
that farmers want markets tion the time to work on hurt American workers.
for their crops, not payoffs long-term trade deals," "We're making tremendous
for lost sales and lower pric- said Agriculture Secretary progress. They're all com-
es. The Agriculture Depart- Sonny Perdue as adminis- ing. They don't want to have
ment said it would tap an tration officials argued that those tariffs put on them,"
existing program to provide the plan was not a "bailout" Trump told the Veterans of
billions in direct payments of the nation's farmers. Foreign Wars national con-
to farmers and ranchers But that provided little sol- vention. "We're opening up
hurt by foreign retaliation ace to rank-and-file Re- markets. You watch what's
to Trump's tariffs. publicans, who said the going to happen. Just be
With congressional elec- tariffs are simply taxes and a little patient."Agriculture
tions coming soon, the warned the action would officials said they would
government action under- open a Pandora's box for not need congressional
scored administration con- other sectors of the econ- approval and the money
Farmer Tim Novotny, of Wahoo, shreds male corn plants in a
field of seed corn, in Wahoo, Neb., Tuesday, July 24, 2018. cern about damage to U.S. omy. "I want to know what would come through the
Associated Press farmers from Trump's trade we're going to say to the Commodity Credit Corpo-
tariffs and the potential for automobile manufactur- ration, a wing of the de-
By KEN THOMAS, PAUL WISE- gency relief to ease the losing House and Senate ers and the petrochemi- partment that addresses
MAN and LISA MASCARO pain of American farm- seats in the Midwest and cal manufacturers and all agricultural prices.
Associated Press ers slammed by President elsewhere. the other people who are The officials said payments
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Donald Trump's escalating The administration said the being hurt by tariffs," said couldn't be calculated un-
Trump administration an- trade disputes with China program was just tempo- Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. til after harvests come in.
nounced Tuesday it will and other countries. rary. "You've got to treat every- Brad Karmen, the USDA's
provide $12 billion in emer- However, some farm-state "This is a short-term solu- body the same." assistant deputy adminis-
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., trator for farm programs,
said the plan would spend noted that the wheat har-
billions on "gold crutches," vest is already in, so wheat
adding, "America's farm- farmers could get pay-
ers don't want to be paid ments sooner than other
to lose — they want to growers.
win by feeding the world. Soybeans are likely to be
This administration's tariffs the largest sector affected
and bailouts aren't going by the programs. Soybean
to make America great prices have plunged 18
again, they're just going to percent in the past two
make it 1929 again." months.
The program is expected to Trump declared earlier
start taking effect around Tuesday that "Tariffs are
Labor Day. Officials said the greatest!" and threat-
the direct payments could ened to impose additional
help producers of soy- penalties on U.S. trading
beans, which have been partners as he prepared for
hit hard by retaliation to negotiations with European
the Trump tariffs, along with officials at the White House.
sorghum, corn, wheat, cot- Tariffs are taxes on imports.
ton, dairy and farmers rais- They are meant to protect
ing hogs. domestic businesses and
The food purchased from put foreign competitors at
farmers would include a disadvantage. But the
some types of fruits, nuts, taxes also exact a toll on
rice, legumes, dairy prod- U.S. businesses and con-
ucts, beef and pork, offi- sumers, which pay more for
cials said. imported products.
Trump did not specifically The Trump administration
reference the plan during has slapped tariffs on $34
a speech to veterans in billion in Chinese goods in a
Kansas City, but asked for dispute over Beijing's high-
patience as he attempts to tech industrial policies. q