USDA has given farms $8 billion to offset Trump tariff losses, Perdue says

The Trump administration has provided $8 billion in aid to date to the agriculture industry to offset the negative impact the various tariffs it has imposed since President Trump took office, according to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. "Farmers contended with significant market disruptions in 2018 arising from retaliatory tariffs that were affecting billions of dollars of agricultural trade and disrupting markets for commodities ranging from soybeans to almonds to hogs," Perdue will say Wednesday, according to prepared comments the agency posted online for Perdue's appearance before the Senate Agriculture Committee. "To date, [assistance] programs have provided more than $8 billion to assist with the disruption in commodity markets caused by unfair tariffs on U.S. agricultural products."The administration has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods. China retaliated by placing 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion worth of U.S. goods including soybeans, pork, and chicken, among other items.