Trade-mitigation aid won’t undo damage, ag groups say

After reports last week that the White House was delaying additional payments to farmers to mitigate lost trade due to retaliatory tariffs, USDA announced on Monday a second and final round of assistance. Farm groups were quick to weigh in on the announcement, saying in press statements that while they appreciate the assistance, it falls short of actual damages and getting trade back on track is critical.The American Farm Bureau Federation said farmers and ranchers continue to feel price pressure and very real economic damage due to the trade actions other nations have taken.“While this assistance package will help a number of our farm families during this year of economic challenges, the best way to provide lasting relief is to continue pushing for trade and tariff reform from trading partners like China, Canada, Mexico, India, Turkey and the European Union,” Zippy Duvall, AFBF president, said.National Farmers Union said that while the assistance is appreciated, it falls woefully short of the support required to blunt current and future damages of the administration’s trade wars.“We’ve lost markets that took decades to build,” Roger Johnson, NFU president, said.