Trump hammers China for targeting US farmers in trade dispute
The Trump administration plans to use Great Depression-era programme to cushion farmers hit by lost orders from China
Washington — US President Donald Trump accused China on Wednesday of "vicious" targeting of US farmers and using them as leverage to get trade concessions. "China is targeting our farmers, who they know I love & respect, as a way of getting me to continue allowing them to take advantage of the US. They are being vicious in what will be their failed attempt. We were being nice — until now!" Trump wrote on Twitter. American farmers have been a target in the global clash over trade policy as other countries seek to retaliate for US duties on Chinese goods, as well as on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico. The affected countries have in turn targeted US agricultural products, including soybeans, dairy, meat, produce and liquor. The US exported $138bn in agriculture products in 2017, including $21.5bn of soybeans, the most valuable export. China imported $12.3bn of US soybeans in 2017, according to the US Department of Agriculture. On Tuesday, the Trump administra...
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