Trump-China trade war assistance package includes $14.5B in 'direct payments' to farmers

[Geee]

Washington Examiner

The Trump administration said Thursday that it would provide $14.5 billion in "direct payments" to farmers as part of an aid package to offset the damage caused by the trade war with China. Another $1.4 billion would be allocated to purchase surplus agricultural commodities. 

 

The assistance, which wouldn't require congressional approval, would be the second aid package the Trump administration has given to farmers within the last year, having authorized $12 billion in farm aid last year.

President Trump said it was a necessary expenditure to push back against China's policies and that "patriotic" farmers backed his effort. He argued that the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would cover the costs of the aid. "It all comes from China. We'll being taking in hundreds of billions of dollars from China," he said.