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McKinney: new trade aid package coming soon

The Trump administration is planning to provide additional aid to farmers impacted by the U.S. China trade war.  

USDA Trade Undersecretary Ted McKinney says details on a new trade mitigation program will be released soon. 

“We’re working very diligently,” he says. “This is an all hands on deck kind of thing at the President and Secretary Perdue’s request so that we can give immediate relief.”

The new program would be the second round of assistance for farmers since the $12 billion package last year.

He says the administration is sending a message that U.S. agriculture is not to be messed with.

“I hope the message that is sent is don’t go use agriculture every time because we’re going to watch their backs, we’ve got their backs,” he says.

He says the department is finalizing details, but the portfolio will be diverse.

And despite renewed tension between the U.S. and China with the recent tariff hikes, McKinney says he remains hopeful a deal will be reached.

McKinney spoke to farm broadcasters today in Washington D.C. during NAFB’s 2019 Washington Watch.