Billions to ag

Billions to ag

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
It appears that the White House and the US Department of Agriculture are getting behind American farmers and ranchers. The Washington Post reported that the USDA has announced a $12 billion package of emergency aid for farmers caught in the midst of Pres. Donald Trump's escalating trade war in the latest sign the growing tensions between the United States and other countries will not end soon. Then this from agriculture Sec. Sonny Purdue as he unveiled the $12 billion package. "This administration will not stand by while our hard-working agricultural producers bear the brunt of unfriendly and illegal tariffs." Much of the 12 billion will go towards payments to producers which raises the question whether this would take payments above what is allowed under World Trade Organization rules but trade council Jason Houghmeister says, "as we have looked at these programs, look at our numbers, we should be below our ceiling for trade distorting domestic support. That's a $19 billion ceiling and right now we are running at less than $5 billion so I think we are in pretty good shape in keeping this within the rules."
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