While a trade war may be on hold between the U.S. and China, a Department of Agriculture official says the Trump administration remains ready to support farmers and ranchers, if needed. China and the U.S. put the trade war tariffs on hold, for now, as the two sides are negotiating.
Speaking at the ONE18: The Alltech Ideas Conference, USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey told attendees “we’ll see how that all plays out.” Northey told attendees Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and President Trump are committed to “make sure that we have protection for agriculture,” through a trade war “if and when those things happen.” Further, Northey said he “hopes there is real opportunity to grow our exports to China” as China “needs the products we produce.” However, as for timing, Northey said with a chuckle from the audience “the next little while could be the next Tweet.”
At nearly the same time, President Trump on Twitter said of the potential deal with China, that: “They will purchase from our great American farmers practically as much as our farmers can produce.”
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.