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NYTimes Editorial: So Now Trump Wants to Protect Farmers From Trump's Trade War?
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Opinion
So Now Trump Wants to Protect Farmers From Trumps Trade War?
A $12 billion farm bailout will not undo the damage the administrations incoherent policies are doing to American industry and workers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/24/opinion/trump-farmers-bailout-trade-tariffs.html?nytapp=true&smid=nytcore-ios-share
By The Editorial Board
The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and the publisher. It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.
July 24, 2018
Image
CreditChiara Ghigliazza
Scrambling to soften the blow of his destructive trade wars, President Trump is offering a $12 billion bailout for farmers facing retaliation from Americas trading partners hurt by his tariffs. Its a desperation move, and it wont do much to reverse the damage the administration has inflicted by senselessly raising duties on steel, aluminum and other imports from Canada, Mexico, the European Union, China and elsewhere.
Mr. Trumps tariff increases were never needed in the first place. Indeed, the plan to pay off farmers theoretically, voters in many of the presidents political strongholds is the latest in a series of incoherent and haphazard economic decisions that the Trump administration has made in recent months, often in an attempt to clean up after it failed to think through the consequences of its earlier actions. In retaliation for Mr. Trumps tariffs, China, the European Union, Mexico and other countries quite predictably imposed tariffs on soybeans, corn, pork and other products, and so equally predictably demand, and therefore prices, dropped for these commodities. The agriculture sector is understandably upset. But a one-time payment is no way to fix this problem the president created.
Thats why even lawmakers from farm states dont like the presidents approach of using a Depression-era program known as the Commodity Credit Corporation to help farmers. Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, likened the plan to spending $12 billion on gold crutches. He added, This administrations tariffs and bailouts arent going to make America great again; theyre just going to make it 1929 again. In April, after the administration floated the idea of helping farmers hurt by foreign tariffs, Senator Pat Roberts, the Kansas Republican who heads the agriculture committee, told reporters, We dont need another subsidy program; we need to sell our product.
Mr. Trumps decision to pay farmers could run afoul of commitments the United States has made at the World Trade Organization not to unfairly subsidize its agricultural sector. That could give other countries, which will now be worried that their farmers will be at a competitive disadvantage, a reason to further retaliate against the United States. Countries have often fought about agriculture subsidies. For example, the Obama administration accused India of unfairly subsidizing its farmers, and Brazil has long complained about American farm programs. ..........................
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NYTimes Editorial: So Now Trump Wants to Protect Farmers From Trump's Trade War? (Original Post)
riversedge
Jul 2018
OP
dalton99a
(81,068 posts)1. Another day, another disaster
Sneederbunk
(14,208 posts)2. A $12 Billion carrot that will be withdrawn after Nov 6.
Girard442
(6,059 posts)3. Not so much withdrawn, but never actually existed.
"Sign the lease. By the time you move in, there will be a pool, a modern gym, and a community center with a ballroom. All you gotta do is sign."
dchill
(38,321 posts)4. $12 billion gift for corporate farms?
Disguised as a bailout for Murikan farmers?
Chris Studio
(82 posts)5. So let's be clear
Trump is using subsidies, which make trade unfair - according to him, to help farmers, who were hurt by tariffs he himself put on farmers, to protest unfair trade.
Positively Orwellian. And stupid.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)6. And trmp just gets stupider by the day
Will no one rid us of this meddlesome fool ??