Trump’s $16bn aid programme to cushion US farmers
Department of agriculture says the package is to help soybean growers to establish new markets
Washington — US President Donald Trump’s $16bn aid programme will help American farmers hurt by the US-China trade war, including efforts to open the doors to their products outside of China, the US agriculture secretary says. “Some of this $16bn is going to be used for market access programmes to go and build markets elsewhere,” US agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue said on Fox Business Network. “If China’s decided not to play, then we’ll sell these great products elsewhere.” Perdue did not offer further details, but the US department of agriculture was scheduled to release more information on the aid package later. Part of the aid package could include direct payments to US farmers of $2 per bushel for soybeans, Bloomberg reported. Perdue cited efforts already under way to boost access for US farm goods in India, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, among other countries, but acknowledged that China was the main player and expressed hope that talks could get back on track...
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