Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue laughs with a reporter on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 23, 2019.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)President Donald Trump rolled out another $16 billion in aid for farmers hurt by his trade policies, and financial markets shook Thursday on the growing realization that the U.S. and China are far from settling a bitter, year-long trade dispute.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that the first of three payments is likely to be made in July or August and suggested that the U.S. and China were unlikely to have settled their differences by then.
“The package we’re announcing today ensures that farmers do not bear the brunt of unfair retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and other trading partners,” Perdue said.
The latest bailout comes atop $11 billion in aid Trump provided farmers last year.
“We will ensure our farmers get the relief they need and very, very quickly,” Trump said.