“It’s easier to talk about than it is to do.”
That is what one official close to Donald Trump had to say about devising a cash bailout for farmers who have been devastated by the president’s tariff war, which has many farmers on the brink of ruin.
According to a report from Politico’s Myah Ward and Grace Yarrow, the clock is ticking on the Trump administration to make good on the president’s promises to struggling farmers after he claimed his people would transfer tariff receipts to farmers to make up for their sales shortfalls after customers like China took their business elsewhere.
Politico is reporting, “... the money hasn’t come, and time is running out before farmers have to make crucial decisions about next year’s planting season,” adding that the government shutdown has made the task even more difficult.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) admitted that time is short and help is slow to come.
“Farmers are hurting financially,” he explained. “They’re very troubled, there’s some expectation for help. Emotionally, it would be great for something to happen soon. But financially, they need to be able to go to their bankers and say that help is on the way.”
With White House spokesperson Anna Kelly saying in a statement, “No decisions have been made, but we look forward to sharing good news soon,” the Trump ally who claimed it’s easier to talk about than do, suggested there are roadblocks still ahead.
“The [administration] wants to get it right. They don’t want to overdo it. They don’t want to underdo it. There is tariff revenue there, and there’s some legal complications,” they said.
“This is the second time the administration has found itself caught between its policy priorities and angry farmers suffering the repercussions. The administration’s deportation agenda also spurred backlash from farmers reliant on undocumented labor,” Politico is reporting before adding that American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland is frantically raising the alarm this time.
“The frustration is overwhelming,” he said in a statement. “U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. government is extending $20 billion in economic support to Argentina while that country drops its soybean export taxes to sell 20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.”
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